Question:
Assalamualaikum ustaz. Is lizard’s dropping considered as najis? If so, is it categorized as moderate najis or forgivable? The reason is sometimes it is hard to avoid where one accidentally steps on it.
Answer:
Waalaikumussalam wrt. wbt.,
Alhamdulillah, praise and gratitude to Allah SWT for His countless blessings for us all. Praise and salutations to our beloved Prophet Muhammad PBUH, his family, companions, and all those who follow his footsteps until the Final day.
We begin with the statement of Allah SWT:
إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُحِبُّ التَّوَّابِينَ وَيُحِبُّ الْمُتَطَهِّرِينَ
“Indeed, Allah loves those who are constantly repentant and loves those who purify themselves.” [1]
Al-Syaukani said the meaning of the above verse is that Allah SWT loves those who repent from his sins and purify themselves from janabah and hadas. [2] In other words, Allah SWT loves His slaves who always repent with istighfar and purify and distance themselves from dirty and disgusting acts. [3]
Likewise, Islam emphasizes matters of purification and cleanliness. Hence, people are naturally inclined towards cleanliness and would avoid any filth. Since Islam is an innate religion, then it is natural for it to command its followers to purify themselves and take care of their cleanliness. The Prophet PBUH also stated:
الطُّهُورُ شَطْرُ الإِيمَانِ
“Purity is half of iman (faith).” [4]
Definition of Lizards
Lizards are reptiles that are closely related to snakes. Like snakes, some lizards do not have legs. Some resemble snakes but have legs. Many large lizards look like crocodiles. Lizards vary in size, shape and color. Scientists have identified more than 3750 species of lizards. Australia has more than 500 species. [5] According to the 4th Edition of Kamus Dewan, a lizard is a small reptile, with a long body and tail and four legs. [6] The definition given by Kamus Dewan is closer to the lizard as we all know in Malaysia or known as geckos (house lizard).
In Arabic, a gecko is known as “الوزغة” and is known to be a creeping animal. It has a spotted body similar to a leper and it is categorized as pests. [7] Furthermore, geckos are permissible to be killed for they are included as fawasiq (pests). Among the hadiths which describe this is narrated by Ummu Syarik R.Anha:
أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَمَرَ بِقَتْلِ الْوَزَغِ وَقَالَ كَانَ يَنْفُخُ عَلَى إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم
“Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) ordered that the salamander should be killed and said, “It (i.e. the salamander) blew (the fire) on Abraham.” [8]
Types of najis
Najis is divided into three which are Mukhaffafah najis (minor), Mutawassitah najis (moderate) dan Mughallazah najis (major).
- Mughallazah najis are dogs and swine and anything from them.
- Mukhaffafah najis is the urine of a baby boy who only suckles from his mother and is not more than two years old.
- Mutawassitah najis is najis other than both previously stated najis. For example, urine, animals’ excrements and blood. [9]
The Ruling of Lizard’s Dropping
According to the above division, the lizard’s dropping is categorized as mutawassitah najis. The reason is according to madhhab al-Syafi’e the dropping, excrement and urine of animals are considered as najis. There is a hadith narrated by Ibn Mas’ud RA. He said:
فأتيتُه بحجرَيْن وروْثةٍ فأخذ الحَجرَيْن وألقى الرَّوْثةَ وقال: إنَّها رِكسٌ
“I brought him two stones and a piece of dung. He took the two stones and threw the dung away, saying: ‘It is impure.'” [10]
Although originally in the opinion of madhhab al-Syafi’I any dropping, excrement and urine is najis, regardless of any types of animals whether they are permissible or impermissible to be eaten. However, in certain situations, which is described as umm al-Balwa, for instance, when the presence of najis is hard to control or avoid, such as bird droppings in the mosque, excrements of fishes in water and excrements of grasshoppers and other types of animals without flowing blood including geckos, according to scholars, are still considered as najis, however, they are forgivable because they are hard to avoid. [11]
Conclusion
Thus, according to the above discussion, in our opinion geckos’ dropping are categorized as mutawassitah najis and the methodology of purifying it is by removing it first and then washing the place that comes into contact with it until its smell, color and taste are gone.
If the gecko’s dropping is avoidable, then if one accidentally stepped on it, he should immediately remove and wash it off, for it can affect the prayer. However, if the gecko dropping is unavoidable, then it doesn’t harm the prayer and is forgiven as it is included in umm al-Balwa.
We’d like to take this opportunity to ask the mosque’s committees to clean the mosque properly ensuring that it is always clean from any small najis such as gecko’s droppings in maintaining the purity of the mosque and upholding its eminence.
May Allah SWT grant us all a clear understanding in religion. Amin.
Wallahu a’lam.
[2] See Zubdah al-Tafasir min Fath al-Qadir oleh al-Asyqar, pg. 44.
[3] See Tafsir al-Muyassar, pg. 35
[5] See Ensiklopedia Dunia, terj. DBP, 5/273.
[6] See https://prpm.dbp.gov.my/Cari1?keyword=cicak. Accessed on 30th December 2021.
[7] See Hayah al-Hayawan al-Kubra, 2/544.
[9] See al-Fiqh al-Manhaji, 1/40-41.
[10] Narrated by al-Tirmizi (17); Ibn Majah (314); Ahmad (3685)
[11] See al-Majmu‘ Syarh al-Muhazzab, 2/550; Nihayah al-Muhtaj, 1/80.