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Fatwa CenterObsessed about Impurities
Question
Asalam o alaikum,My question is regarding the characteristics of Vaseline or petroleum jelly tht is oily in nature. I want to ask whether these have the same ruling as of water tht if they come onto something impure they will spread impurities. due to a skin problem i have to apply Vaseline to my foot if i step onto some place or thing tht is impure will tht impurity transfer to my foot n thn to other places i step on!! I have a problem of OCD. N therefore waste alot of time n energy in determining tht whether I’m pure n eligible for prayer or should i wash myself or the floor etc. For instance i stepped onto my bathrooms floor mat which is has my bathroom slippers on it! Does this mean tht my foot is impure n the shoes tht i wore after tht are impure? Or they are merely waswasas! Although initially ignored it becoz of the fact tht I don’t knw abt the ruling for such substances and secondly tht whether the mat was pure or not or whether the vaseline passed down to the mat bcoz i was also wearing socks!! But the problem is tht after ignoring it i fear tht i might be wrong n all my prayers are compromised n i may be spreading impurity around for others as well Kindly guide my so tht i can rectify my actions. N please answer me according to the hanafi school of thought!
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad 
is His slave and Messenger.
First of all, we advise you –which is also something that is recommended in the Hanafi School of jurisprudence – to repel these whispers, ignore them and not pay any attention to them.
In principle, all places are pure, and you do not judge that a place or something is impure unless you are certain, a certainty upon which you can swear that it has become impure.
If a wet substance is mixed with impurity, it becomes impure, but you should not judge that this ointment has been stained with impurity unless you are certain about it. Besides, the Hanafi jurists are of the view that little impurity is pardoned.
Therefore, take it easy and ignore these whispers and live a normal life without being controlled with these obsessions lest you spoil your worldly affairs and your religion.
Allah knows best.
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