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In the last issue we discussed water as a means of purification. In this issue we are going to discuss the meaning of Istinja. In Fiqh terminology Istinja means cleaning of the private parts after relieving onself. The importance of Istinja has been stressed more than once in the Shariah. Negligence in this regard has been declared as sinful and a major cause of the torment of the grave. Once the Holy Prophet (Pbuh) passed by two graves and said:
“The two persons buried here are undergoing severe torment for trivial negligence: One of them did not cleanse himself properly after urinating, and the other was given to back-biting.” (Bukhari and Muslim)
Toilet Etiquette
1. It is forbidden to face or turn one’s back towards the Quiblah, the sun or the moon, while relieving oneself. Children also should be made to squat in a manner that they do not face the Qiblah or turn backs towards it.
2. One should not urinate under a shady tree, a fruit tree, on a river bank or the edge of a water tank, at places where people perform ablutions, sin the graveyard, or the mosque or the congregational ground for Id Prayers, etc. on thoroughfares and roads, at places where people meet, at places where people take rest or places where people visit for their daily needs.
3. One should not urinate while standing unless it is unavoidable.
4. It is forbidden to wear a ring, chain or anything with an attribute of Allah or the Kalimah, or a verse of the Qur’an, or a Hadith inscribed or engraved on it. One should remove it. Holy Prophet (Pbuh) used to take off his ring which had “Mohammed (Pbuh), prophet of Allah”, engraved on it before entering the lavatory.
5. One should not talk or cough unnecessarily or recite a verse, or a Hadith, or other sacred words or say “Al-Hamdu Lillah” after sneezing, while relieving onself however, one can say anything in the mind.
6. It is wrong to strip onself naked or spend too much time in the lavatory while relieving oneself.
7. The Holy Prophet (Pbuh) has strictly forbidden urinating in running or stagnant water.
8. One should not carry on a conversation with someone else while answering the call of nature. According to Abu Saeed AI-Khudri, the Prophet’s companion, the Holy Prophet (Pbuh) said: “Let not any two men speak to each other when they go to relieve themselves, in the state of nakedness. Allah hates that.” (Ahmad, Abu Dawood, Ibn Majah).
9. It is forbidden to urinate in holes in the ground as apart from the danger of being bitten by insects and animals, they may be the residence of the jinn.
10. One should keep far away from the spots where people sit to talk or pass by, while answering the call of nature. In this regard the Holy Prophet (Pbuh) has said, “Beware of the two things which cause you to be cursed. Cursed is the person who relieves himself where people pass by or where they sit in the shade.” (Ahmed, Muslim, Abu, Dawood).
Prayer Before entering a Lavatory Before entering a lavatory in order to relieve oneself one should recite the following over:
Allahumma inni a uzu bika min-al-khubuthi wal-Khabaith
“O Allah, I seek refuge from the Devils of both male and female species” (Bukhari).
Prayer at the time of leaving the Toilet
After relieving oneself one should recite the following prayer:
Al-hamd-u lillah-illazi azhaba ‘ann-il-aza wa afani.
“Praise be to Allah who relieved me of the burden and gave me relief.” (Nasai and Ibn Majah).
If one does not remember these words, one may simply say:
Ghufranak
“(O Allah) I seek Thy forgiveness.”
Cleansing Oneself
1. After relieving oneself one is enjoined to wipe the seat of excrement with dry clods of earth or toilet paper and then use water for purification. If these are not available, water only may be used. However one should make sure that there is no more trickling of urine and the last drop has passed out before water is used.
2. After urination it is advisable to use the clod of earth till there is no wetness.
3. The private parts can be cleaned by means of water, clod of earth, toilet-paper, stone, rag or any other absorbent, provided these are clean but not costly and sacred.
4. In cleaning the private parts one should not use pieces of dung, droppings, used clods, or those liquids which cannot be used for purification, e.g., Vinegar, beverages, etc.
5. One should not use bones, pieces of coal, glass, concrete, etc., or metals like steel, copper, gold, silver, etc., for cleaning purposes.
6. One cannot use, to clean the private parts, items of animal fodder like hay, leaves, etc., valuable things like cloth, extracts, etc., human hair, flesh, etc., piece of mat or a duster of the mosque, pieces of plain paper or with writing on it, Zamzam water, fruit skins, or other useful or sacred things.
7. If the filth remains restricted to the seat of excrement, it is compulsory (Sunnat Mu’akkadah) to cleanse it, but if it has flowed out and soiled the outer skin, it is obligatory (Fard) to cleanse it.
8. It is necessary to clean even if pus or blood has issued from anal or genital parts.
9. Cleansing should be performed with the left hand, which should then be thoroughly washed with soap or by rubbing on the earth.
The Prohet (Pbuh) said: “Live in this world like a stranger (to it) or a traveller (on brief sojourn)” (Bukhari)
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