The Chameleon and the Lizard

Question

What is the verified fatwa of the scholars regarding a lizard dying in a well, or swelling and bursting, or rotting and decomposing? From some books it appears that the lizard is an animal with blood, so the well is impure; from other books it appears that the lizard is bloodless, so the well is pure. Some scholars have set out two kinds of lizard — one with flowing blood and one bloodless — and the rulings of the two are separate.

Answer

(1) Not every one has it. (2) Some of them do have it. (3) Yes, there are two kinds. The one with blood is large and generally lives in the wild; the bloodless one is small and lives in inhabited areas, in houses, on walls, ceilings and the like. When it comes out decomposed with its form changed, it can be recognised by its body size whether it is small or large. (4)

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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