When we wash all the clothes which are Najis (for e.g infants clothes etc.) in a washing machine (excluding non-najis), does it have to be washed thrice? Or can we wash it in machine once and then rinse the machine?
Bismillahi Ta’ala
Walaikum Assalam Warahmatullah
At the outset, heavy impurities (Najasah Ghaleeza) in clothes can be of two types.
1: visible and apparent like feces etc. : This is considered pure (tahir) once the actually impurity and its impression is removed, even if it is washed one time only
2: invisible like urine: This is considered pure (tahir) once the there is personal certainty that the impurity has been removed, even if it is washed one time only. However it is recommended that it is done thrice to attain that certainty
Aside from the above fiqhi information, it should be understood that a normal conventional automatic washing machine uses a minimum of two cycles. A clean cycle and a rinse cycle. Larger loads use a third cycle for good measure as well. For every cycle fresh clean water is added. Rinse cycle(s) are normally cold rinses.
In view of this, considering that the first clean cycle mixes the najis and non-najis clothes together, the second rinse cycle and any other subsequent cycles along with spins will wash the clothes, removing all impurity themselves as well as their impression.
You are not required to do a rinse & clean cycle for the washing machine, however doing so is good for the machine itself.
Wallahu A’lam
And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best
Mufti Faisal al-Mahmudi