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Violations: Hunting and Killing Lice Q7

Question

Ruling on killing lice by washing or placing the item in the sun?

Answer

If the muḥrim exposes himself or his garment to the sun, or washes his hair or garment with the intention of killing lice then sadaqah equal to the value of Sadaqatul Fitr would become waajib on him.
If he did so without the intention of killing the lice, no penalty will be due, even if the lice die as a result.
Note that throwing away a louse is treated the same as killing it, because human hair is the place where lice breed and reside.

Arabic

(ولو ألقى) أي المحرم (ثوبه في الشمس أو غسله لقصد هلاكها) علة لهما، فعليه الجزاء، وهو نصف صاع من حنطة إن كان القمل كثيراً، على ما في المحيط (وإن فعل) أي كلاً من الإلقاء والغسل (لغير قصد الهلاك، فلا شيء عليه) أي ولو هلك القمل (وإلقاء القملة كقتلها). [مناسك ملا على قاري ٥٣٤]

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