Question:
Assalamualaikum wbt. What is the ruling for drool that ends up on one’s pillowcase or clothing?
Answer:
Waalaikumussalam. Alhamdulillah, praise and thanks to Allah for the countless blessings He has blessed us all with. Blessings and salutations to the Prophet Muhammad PBUH, his wives, his family, companions and all those that follow his teachings to the day of judgement.
Answering the above question, the origin of drool that came from someone’s mouth is pure. This is in accordance with Allah SWT’s statement:
وَلَقَدْ كَرَّمْنَا بَنِي آدَمَ
“And We have certainly honored the children of Adam,”
Surah al-Isra’ (70)
This is also mentioned in a hadith of the Prophet PBUH, from Abu Hurairah RA:
إِنَّ الْمُؤْمِنَ لاَ يَنْجُسُ
“A believer never becomes impure.”
Sahih al-Bukhari (285) & Sahih Muslim (850)
There was also an incident told by Saidatina Aisyah R.Anha. She said:
كُنْتُ أَشْرَبُ وَأَنَا حَائِضٌ ثُمَّ أُنَاوِلُهُ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَيَضَعُ فَاهُ عَلَى مَوْضِعِ فِيَّ فَيَشْرَبُ
“I would drink when I was menstruating, then I would hand it (the vessel) to the Apostle (ﷺ) and he would put his mouth where mine had been, and drink,”
Sahih Muslim (453)
From the above verse of the Quran and hadith, we should understand that anything from a human, other than what is excreted from the private parts are not considered as najis (considered as impure religiously); such as perspiration, saliva and others.
As for drool (saliva that leaks out of one’s mouth while he is sleeping), the scholars state that if it is originated from one’s mouth, then it is not najis. However, if it is from the stomach, then it is considered as najis. Imam al-Nawawi cited the words of Imam Abu Muhammad al-Juwaini regarding this matter:
“As for drool that comes from lahwat (uvula). If it leaks out from the stomach then it is agreed that it is najis. In order to identify the origin of drool, one must consider the characteristic and nature of it. If it leaks from one’s mouth since he started sleeping and stops and dries out on one’s mouth and on the place that he sleeps, then it is from the mouth. Whereas, if it leaks continuously when he was sleeping and he finds that it is wet, then it is from the stomach.”
To avoid having doubts as to whether it is from the mouth or the stomach, then it is best to wash the clothing or the body parts that came into contact with it as a precautionary step. Imam al-Nawawi said:
“The chosen opinion state that it is not necessary to wash the area the drool came into contact with, with the exception if the drool originated from the stomach. If he is in doubt, then it is not obligatory for him to wash it, but it is permissible to wash it as a precautionary step.”
He further said:
“It is clear that drool from the mouth that leaks out when one is sleeping is a forgiven najis (if it often happens) and it is the same as the blood of mosquito, residual urine due to incontinence, istihadah blood and other forgiven najis due to the masyaqqah (hardship).” Refer al-Majmu’ Syarh al-Muhazzab (2/570-571)
As a conclusion, drool is najis, but it is considered as forgiven najis if it often happens. However, if one is unsure whether the drool is from the mouth or stomach, then it is best to wash the clothing or place that came in contact with it.
Wallahua’lam.