Is Earwax Impure? (Shafi’i)

Answered by Shaykh Jamir Meah

Question: Assalamu alaykum

Is earwax impure?

Answer: Wa’alaykum assalam, Jazakum Allah khayr for your question.

Earwax, like some other body secretions, such as nose secretions and semen, are pure (tahir) and not deemed impurities (najasa).

However, despite not being impure, they do fall under a specific category of substances termed, al mustaqdhirat, which is somewhat between pure and impure. So, while being pure substances in of themselves, they are nevertheless considered filthy.

In terms of practical rulings, this means that, although their presence does not affect worship (as they are pure), it is not permissible to enter such substances into one’s mouth, eat, or swallow them (as they are a still a type of ‘filth’).

[Bushra al Karim]

I pray this clarifies things for you.

Warmest salams,
[Shaykh] Jamir Meah

Shaykh Jamir Meah grew up in Hampstead, London. In 2007, he traveled to Tarim, Yemen, where he spent nine years studying the Islamic sciences on a one-to-one basis under the foremost scholars of the Ribaat, Tarim, with a main specialization and focus on Shafi’i fiqh. In early 2016, he moved to Amman, Jordan, where he continues advanced studies in a range of Islamic sciences, as well as teaching. Jamir is a qualified homeopath.