Question:

Assalamualaikum ustaz. Sometimes I forget to wash the eggs before boiling them. When it is boiled, I realize that there are najis on some of the eggs. Thus, what is the ruling of boiling eggs in mutanajjis water and are the eggs halal to be eaten?

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:

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لَا تُحَرِّمُوا طَيِّبَاتِ مَا أَحَلَّ اللَّـهُ لَكُمْ وَلَا تَعْتَدُوا ۚ إِنَّ اللَّـهَ لَا يُحِبُّ الْمُعْتَدِينَ

“O you who have believed, do not prohibit the good things which Allah has made lawful to you and do not transgress. Indeed, Allah does not like transgressors.” [1]

The above verse contains reminders for believers to not prohibit anything that is good, which Allah SWT has permitted for them which includes food, drink and marrying women that constricts what Allah SWT has widened for them. Furthermore, this verse also reminds them to not transgress the limitations that Allah SWT has prohibited, for indeed, Allah SWT dislikes transgressors. [2]

The outer egg shell is considered pure

In this issue, there are two opinions of scholars and the most sahih is that the outer part of an egg is considered pure if it is laid in a pure place and it isn’t necessary to be washed before being cooked. However, if it comes into contact with najis when it was excreted, then it is considered mutanajjis – which means that it will return to being pure when it is washed and cleaned from the najis. We have discussed this matter in-depth in our article titled: #421 Washing Eggs. [3]

Boiling water that came in contact with najis

Boiling water that came into contact with najis is considered mutanajjis water. The reason is mutanajjis water is water where najis falls in it. This water is divided into two types:

First: Small amount of water which means water that is less than two qullah. This water is considered najis because najis has fallen in it, even if the najis is a small amount and doesn’t change its characteristics in terms of color, smell and taste.

Second: A large amount of water which means water that is of 2 qullah or more. This water isn’t automatically considered najis if some najis fell into it or it came into contact with najis, but it will only be considered najis when one of its characteristics has changed, that is its color, taste or smell. The evidence is the agreement of scholars. Ibn Munzir stated that scholars have agreed that water, regardless of whether it is of a small or large amount, when najis fell in it and one of its characteristics; taste, color or smell changes, then the water is najis. [4]

Hence, boiling water that came in contact with najis is considered mutanajjis water.

Boiling eggs using najis or mutanajjis water

Regarding this matter, it is stated in al-Mausu‘ah al-Fiqhiyyah, that the jumhur of scholars from madhhab Hanafi, Syafi’I and Hanbali are of the opinion, that eggs boiled in najis water are halal to be eaten. This is also one of the marjuh opinions – weak opinion – among scholars of madhhab Maliki and their rajih opinion – their final opinion – states that it isn’t halal to be eaten due to its najis characteristic. Likewise, it is difficult to clean it because the boiling water has penetrated the egg. [5]

The majority of scholars are of the opinion it is fine to eat eggs boiled with najis water as long as the shell is still in good condition – which means that it isn’t cracked or others – because it has prevented the najis water from entering the egg. This is as stated in Matalib Uli al-Nuha stating that whoever swallows a type of nut such as hazelnut together with its shell. Then he vomits it or others from any of the body channels, and then the inner part of the nut isn’t considered najis because its outer shell or layer is strong the same as eggs boiled in wine or other najis. This wouldn’t make the inner part of it najis because the najis couldn’t reach the inner part of it. [6]

Furthermore, al-Khatib al-Syirbini also stated that eggs that are boiled in najis water aren’t makruh. [7]

Conclusion

According to the above arguments and discussions, in our opinion, it is fine to boil an egg with mutanajjis water as long as the egg’s shell is intact and in its original form – that is it isn’t cracked or others. However, for the boiled eggs, one must first wash them with clean water to purify them before the egg is peeled to be eaten.

May Allah SWT grant us all a clear understanding in religion. Amin.

Wallahu a’lam.

[1] Surah al-Maidah: 87

[2] See al-Tafsir al-Muyassar, pg. 122

[3] See https://maktabahalbakri.com/421-basuh-telur-ayam/.

[4] See al-Fiqh al-Manhaji, 1/33-35.

[5] See al-Mausu‘ah al-Fiqhiyyah al-Kuwaitiyyah, 8/267.

[6] See Matalib Uli al-Nuha, 1/230.

[7] See Mughni al-Muhtaj, 6/156.