Leftovers of Animals (أحكام الأسآر)

Read the bilingual lesson for Leftovers of Animals (أحكام الأسآر) and test your understanding with a focused quiz.

Lesson

1. The Chapter of Leftovers (Su'r): Definition & Rules

• Linguistic Analysis: The term Sū'r (spelled with a hamzah over the 'ayn) refers to the leftover water in a vessel after an animal has drunk from it. The marginal gloss clarifies that Sūr (without a hamzah) means a city's boundary wall (plural Aswār), whereas the plural of Sū'r is Āsār. • An Essential Condition: Water is legally classified as Sū'r only if it is a small volume (Qalīl). Running river or canal water from which an animal drinks is never legally designated as leftover water. • In Hanafi jurisprudence, based on the contamination level of the animal's saliva, leftover water is classified into four distinct legal classes.

2. Class 1: Pure & Purifying Leftovers

Source text فَالْأَوَّلُ: طَاهِرٌ مُطَهِّرٌ، وَهُوَ سُؤْرُ آدَمِيٍّ... أَوْ فَرَسٍ أَوْ مَا يُؤْكَلُ لَحْمُهُ • Definition & Ruling: This leftover water retains its original purity and can be used for Wudu and Ghusl completely without any legal dislike or restriction. • Included Categories: ◦ Humans: The leftover of any human is pure by consensus, regardless of whether they are a Muslim or non-Muslim, child or adult, in a state of major ritual impurity (Janabah), or menstruating. ◦ Halal Animals: Any animal whose meat is lawful to eat (such as goats, sheep, cattle, camels, etc.). ◦ Horses: The leftover of a horse (Faras) is legally classified as pure and purifying.

3. Class 2: Impure & Unusable Leftovers

Source text وَالثَّانِي: نَجِسٌ لَا يَجُوزُ اسْتِعْمَالُهُ، وَهُوَ مَا شَرِبَ مِنْهُ الْكَلْبُ، أَوِ الْخِنْزِيرُ، أَوْ سِبَاعُ الْبَهَائِمِ • Definition & Ruling: This water is physically impure (Najis). It is strictly prohibited to use it for any ritual purification (Wudu or Ghusl). • Included Animals: ◦ Predatory Beasts: Fanged carnivorous wild animals (Sibā' al-Bahā'im) such as lions, wolves, leopards, and cheetahs. • The leftover water of a dog, pig, or predatory beast is impure and may not be used.

4. Class 3: Disliked Leftovers

Source text وَالثَّالِثُ: مَكْرُوهٌ اسْتِعْمَالُهُ مَعَ وُجُودِ غَيْرِهِ، وَهُوَ سُؤْرُ الْهِرَّةِ، وَالدَّجَاجَةِ الْمُخَلَّاةِ، وَسِبَاعِ الطَّيْرِ، وَسَوَاكِنِ الْبُيُوتِ كَالْفَأْرَةِ لَا الْعَقْرَبِ • Included Animals: ◦ Free-Roaming Chickens: Chickens (al-Dajājah al-Mukhallāh) that are left free to roam and peck at physical filth. ◦ Birds of Prey: Carnivorous birds (Sibā' al-Tayr) such as hawks, falcons, eagles, and kites. ◦ House-Dwelling Creatures: Household roaming pests like mice and snakes. • When other water exists, use of the listed leftovers is disliked; the scorpion is excluded from that list.

5. Class 4: Doubtful Leftovers

Source text وَالرَّابِعُ: مَشْكُوكٌ فِي طَهُورِيَّتِهِ، وَهُوَ سُؤْرُ الْبَغْلِ وَالْحِمَارِ، فَإِنْ لَمْ يَجِدْ غَيْرَهُ تَوَضَّأَ بِهِ وَتَيَمَّمَ، ثُمَّ صَلَّى • Ruling & Explanation: Water whose purifying capacity is legally doubtful due to conflicting textual proofs is classified as doubtful water (Ma' al-Mashkuk). • Example: Leftover water of a domestic donkey (al-Himār) or a mule (al-Baghli). • Method of Purification: If no other water is available, the worshipper is legally required to: ◦ Perform Wudu using this doubtful water. ◦ Perform Tayammum using clean earth. • Order of Execution: Either Wudu or Tayammum can be performed first, but combining both is mandatory to guarantee the validity of the prayer.

6. Hybrid Offspring Rule for Mules

• Fine Legal Distinction: A mule's leftover water is classified as doubtful (Mashkuk) only if its mother was a female donkey (Atān), not a mare (female horse - Ramakah). • The Principle: In Hanafi jurisprudence, the legal ruling of a hybrid offspring is determined by the species of the mother (al-'Ibrah li-l-Umm). • If the mule's mother was a mare, its leftover water is classified as pure and purifying, similar to the horse.

Practice questions

Question 1

Why is the leftover water of an animal referred to technically as Sū'r (with a hamzah) instead of Sūr?

  • Because Sūr means a stagnant well, while Sū'r means running river water.
  • Because Sūr (without hamzah) refers to a city's boundary wall, whereas Sū'r (with hamzah) means leftover water.
  • They are identical in spelling and have the same meaning.
  • Because Sū'r refers to larger animals and Sūr to smaller ones.

Question 2

The leftover water of a non-Muslim or a person who is in a state of major ritual impurity (Janabah) is classified as impure and unusable.

Question 3

Match the animal leftovers (Su'r) with their correct Hanafi legal classifications supported by Noor-ul-Idah:

Question 4

Why is the leftover water of a scorpion (al-'Aqrab) NOT classified as disliked (Makruh), despite being a house-dwelling pest?

  • Because its flesh is halal to eat.
  • Because it lacks flowing blood, which is the default reason for impurity or dislike.
  • Because it only drinks rainwater.
  • Because the Prophet ﷺ blessed scorpions.

Question 5

If a person has no other water but the leftover of a donkey, they can perform Wudu with it and do NOT need to perform Tayammum.

Question 6

According to the motherhood rule (al-'Ibrah li-l-Umm), under which condition is a hybrid mule's leftover classified as doubtful (Mashkuk)?

  • Only when its mother was a female donkey (Atān).
  • Only when its mother was a mare (female horse).
  • Mules' leftovers are always pure and purifying.
  • Mules' leftovers are always impure.

Question 7

Sort the following scenarios into "Pure Leftover" vs. "Disliked Leftover" according to Noor-ul-Idah:

Question 8

Under what condition is water left over by a drinking animal officially termed Sū'r?

  • In all states of water, whether large or small.
  • Only if the water is flowing in a river.
  • Only if the leftover water is a small volume (Qalīl).
  • Only if the animal is a predator.

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