Purity: Conditions for Purification of Sole of Foot or Shoe by Earth

Practical Laws of Islam as per the teachings of Ayatullah Sistani

Ruling 177

Earth purifies the sole of one’s foot or shoe on four conditions:

1. the earth is pure;

2. the earth is dry; however, there is no problem if there is some wetness or moisture on the earth that does not spread;

3. based on obligatory precaution, the impurity has spread onto the sole of one’s foot or shoe from impure earth;

4. an intrinsic impurity – such as blood and urine – or an object that has become impure – such as mud that has become impure and is on the sole of one’s foot or shoe – is removed by walking or rubbing the foot on earth; and in the event that the intrinsic impurity had previously been removed, then based on obligatory precaution, the sole of one’s foot or shoe does not become pure by walking or rubbing the foot on earth. Furthermore, the earth must be of soil, stone, brick, or something similar; therefore, walking on a rug, ḥaṣīr, and grass does not purify the impure sole of one’s foot or shoe.

-Ayatullah Sistani, Practical Laws of Islam, Purification (Taharah)