Understanding the Multiplicity of Impurity

Question

A question about how impurity spreads when coming into contact with various objects.

Answer 1

Peace be upon you.

Ayatollah Khamenei (may Allah protect him):

Anything that comes into contact with the source of impurity becomes impure. If it then touches something pure with moisture, it will also become impure. Similarly, if this impure object touches something pure with moisture, it is obligatory to consider it impure. However, anything that touches this third impure object does not become impure.

In your example, if the refrigerator plug touches the source of impurity with moisture, it becomes the first impure object. If this moisture dries and then the plug touches the sock with moisture, the sock becomes the second impure object, which will also render anything it touches impure. If the same moisture reaches the foot, it also becomes a second impure object and will render anything it touches impure as well.

Regarding the moisturizer that touched the impure hand, only the area of contact with the impurity is considered impure.

Source: Answers to Inquiries, S283 + Tahrir al-Wasilah, Impurities, on the Method of Impurity, M1 + Special Inquiry.

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Ayatollah Sistani (may Allah protect him):

An object that becomes impure by touching the source of impurity acts like an impure object and will render anything it touches impure with moisture. Similarly, an object that becomes impure by touching another impure object will render what it touches impure if there are no intervening objects; otherwise, it does not render it impure, although it is recommended to avoid it.

In your example, if the refrigerator plug touches the source of impurity with moisture, it becomes the first impure object. If this moisture dries and then the plug touches the sock with moisture, the sock becomes the second impure object. If the same moisture reaches the foot, it also becomes a second impure object and will render anything it touches impure as well.

Regarding the moisturizer that touched the impure hand, only the area of contact with the impurity is considered impure.

Source: Minhaj al-Salihin, Vol. 1, Issue 415 + Issue 414 + Special Inquiry.

May you be successful in all good.