Sertu or Shariah ritual cleansing o

Sertu or Shariah ritual cleansing or purification cleansing is for the cleansing that involves the highest level of
impurity or severe najs (najs mughallazah) in Islam laws that concerns contamination (or in physical contact) from
dogs, pigs and its descendant. Example, if a muslim were is in skin contact with a dog (its saliva) be it by accident or
intention, the muslim has to cleanse the part of contact by way of sertu.Shariah sertu cleansing protocol and
procedures are outlined in accordance with Islamic rulings stated in the Holy Quran on precisely how ritual
cleansing should be carried out to cleanse and purify all taints and contaminations from the three types of najs.
MS2400 standards stipulate the Shariah ritual cleansing requirements in Clause 6.7.1 quote: – the organization shall
ensure that Shariah ritual cleansing is performed when and where contamination by severe najs occurs.”
3.1. Raw material – Water
Sertu or ritual cleansing requires the use of water as the base element for washing and cleansing. The conditions
of the water must be natural (mutlaq); and not mustakmal; and must be free from najs (MS2400: 2010). According
to Shariah law, mutlak water is purely water in its original state with no mixture and able to clean and cleanse.
Mutlak water is water that has not been in contact or in use; be it to washing oneself or to wash away filth and such
or mix with any soap or other such chemicals. Absolute (mutlak) water is generally accepted to be as water from
rivers, wells, rain water, dew, sea water, melted snow, spring water and tap water (SIRIM, 2015). The techniques of
using water for the sertu operations are categorized in the subsequent process (procedure).
3.2. Product – Soil or agent of cleansing
The conditions of the soils must be 1) free from najs; and not mustkmal (soil which had been used for dry
ablution) (MS2400: 2010). Sertu or purification with soil is a way to nullify the germs and illnesses that such
impurity holds. Scientists have found that the only way to clean and remove the germs and potential illnesses that
may be present in the contaminants in najs mughalazah is using soil. Soil generally refers to clay; however modern
technology has developed agents of cleansing such as sertu clay product (Kassim, Hashim, Mat Hashin & Jol, 2014),
soap and chemical agents for sertu cleansing. The amount of soil or agent used for ritual cleansing must be
determined in proportionate ratio (amount) of water (raw material) used for the cleansing process.
3.3. Process – Procedure of cleansing
The process of sertu is to cleanse (wash) the affected area or parts 7 times where 1 wash using mutlak water
mixed with soil and 6 washes with mutlak water. Cleansing process guidelines stated in MS2400: 2010 standards as
follows; quote:
a. It is required to wash seven times, one of which shall be water mixed with soil;
b. The first wash shall be to clear the existence of najs, even if a few washes are needed.
c. The water from first cleansing shall not remain behind and the next wash shall be counted as the second
wash.
d. The amount of soil used is just enough to make a suspension; and
e. The usage of cleansing agent containing soil is permitted.
f. This process shall also include controlling the flow and discharge of the cleansing and rinsing water into
proper drainage and drains.