The Manners of Relieving–Istinjā Oneself in Islam
1: Creed 2: Manners 3: Character 4: Act of Worship 5: Deeds
- Purification-Make Pure
- The Manners of Relieving
- Wudu–Ablution
- The Adhan & Iqama
- Ghusl–Full Bath
- Tayammum–Dry Ablution
- Masah–pass wet hand over feet
- Menstruation Postnatal Bleeding
- Salat–Namaz-Salat
- Funeral Regulation
The Requirements Beforehand
Its Status: Purification means-Muslims should purify themselves outwardly & inwardly which is obligatory according to both ways-The Holy Quran and The Holy Prophet’s Sunnah.
Allah the Almighty says:
- One should search for an unattended location, far from the view of others, as is reported for The Prophet ﷺ that when He ﷺ wanted to relieve himself, he would go away as far as possible until no one could see him. (Abu Dawud, At-Tirmithi)
- One should not bring anything with him that mentions Allah in it like Quran or any book related to Islam. It is narrated that The Prophet ﷺ wore a ring with the engraving “Muhammad Allah’s Messenger” and He would remove it when He went to the place where He relieved himself. (At-Tirmithi)
- One should enter the area of seclusion with his left foot, reciting this dua.
بِسْمِ اللهِ، اَللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُبِك مِنَ الْخُبُثِ وَالْخَبَائِثِ
Bismillaah, Allaahumma, innee a’uwdhu bika minal-khbthi wal-khabaa’ith.
“In the Name of Allah. O Allah! I seek refuge with You from the male and female devils.”
It is recorded by Al-Bukhari that The Prophet ﷺ would say that dua before entering toilet.
- One should not lift his garment until he lowers himself to the ground, thereby keeping his private area covered as ordered in Islam.
- Neither facing nor turning one’s back to the direction of the Qibla-is a direction where Muslim should be faced during offering Salat-Namaz
The Messenger of Allah said:
لَا تَسْتَقْبِلُو الْقِبْلَةَ، وَلَا تَسْتَدْبْدِرُوهَا بِغَائِطٍ أَوْ بَوْلٍ
Do not face the Qibla, nor turn your backs to it while defecating or urinating. (Agreed upon)
- One is not to urinate or defecate in the shade, the middle of road, in sources of water, or under trees that bear fruits.
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ Said:
اَتَّقُوا الْمَلَاعِنَ الثَّلَاثَةَ: الْبَرَازُ فِي الْـمَوَارِِدِ وَقَارِعِهِ- وَسَطِ- الطَّرِيقِ، وَالظِّلِّ
Beware of being cursed for three: Defecating in water sources, in the middle of the roads, and in the shade. (Al-Hakim)
Some narrations mentioned the prohibition of defecating under fruit bearing trees.
- One does not speak while defecating.
إِذَا تَغَوَّطَ الرَّجُلانِ فَلْيَتَوَارَ أَحَدُهُمَا، عَنْ صَاحِبِهِ، وَلا يَتَحَدَّثَانِ عَلَى طَوْفِهِمَا؛ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ يَمْقُتُ عَلَى ذَلِكَ
when two men are defecating, let each one of them go away form the other, and not talk to each other; since Allah abhors this.
What is used for cleaning the private areas
1: One should not clean himself with bones or dung, due to the saying of Allah’s Messenger ﷺ:
لَا يُمْسِكَنَّ أَحَدُكُمْ ذَكَرَهُ بِيَمِينِهِ وَهُوَ يَبُولُ، وَلَا يَتَمَسَّحْ مِنَ الْخَلَاءِ بِيَمِينِهِ
Do not clean yourselves with dung or bones ; since it is the food of your brothers among the jinns{an intelligent spirit of lower rank than the angels, able to appear in human and animal forms and to possess humans}. (Agreed upon)
One should not use beneficial things such as linens{cloth woven from flax}, paper etc., or eatable things since this would destroy its benefit and spoiling what is beneficial is unlawful.
2: One should not use his\her right hand for cleaning or touching the sexual organ.
The Messenger of Allah ﷺsaid:
لَا يُمْسِكَنَّ أَحَدُكُمْ ذَكَرَهُ بِيَمِينِهِ وَهُوَ يَبُولُ، وَلَا يَتَمَسَّحْ مِنَ الْخَلَاءِ بِيَمِينِهِ
Let none of your hold their sexual organ with their right hand while urinating, nor cleanse the area of discharge with the right. (Agreed upon)
3: The number of times the area is cleaned should be odd, first three times, then if not clean, then five etc.
Salman May Allah be pleased with him, said: “The Messenger of Allah prohibited us form facing the direction of the Qibla when urinating or defecating, using our right hands to clean our private area, using less than three stones, or cleaning with dung or bone.” (Muslim)
4: If one combines stones and water together in cleaning the two areas, he should use the stones first, then water. Either one of them is sufficient, but water is better.
A’ishah May Allah be pleased with her who felt shy of telling the men, directed the women as saying: “Request your husbands to use water; since the Messenger of Allah ﷺwould do so.” (At-Tirmithi)
What is Required upon Completion
1: To leave the area of seclusion with one’s right foot as done by The Messenger of Allah ﷺ: and To recite one of these supplications after coming out from toilet:
غُفْرَانَكَ
Ghufranaka
.“[O Allah!] I ask your Forgiveness.” (Abu Dawud)
Or
اَلْـحَمْدُ لِلهِ الَّذِي أَذْهَبَ عَنِّي الْأَذَى وَعَافَانِي
Al-Hamdulillaah, alladhee adh-haba ‘annee al-adhaa wa ‘aafaanee.
“Praise is to Allah Who removed harm form me and make me healthy.”
اَلْـحَمْدُ لِلهِ الَّذِي أَذَاقَنِی لَذَّتَهُ وَأَبْقَی فِیَّ قُوَّتَهُ، وَأَذْهَبَ عَنِّي أَذَاهُ
Al-Hamdulillaah, alladhee adhaaqanee ladhdhathu, wa abqaa fiyyaa quwwatahu, wa adhab ‘annee adhaahu.
