Are Prayers Performed Without Washing My Private Parts (Istinja’) Invalid?

Answered by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Question

If I wasn’t aware of the rules of istinja of washing oneself after urinating etc shall I redo my prayers as that would have meant I was doing my prayers whilst impure?

Answer:

Walaikum assalam,

I hope you’re doing well, insha’Allah. These past prayers would be assumed valid, and do not have to be made up (qada’) if you missed performing istinja’ (cleaning the private parts after relieving yourself).

The Legal Ruling of Istinja’ (Cleaning One’s Private Parts)

Istinja’ is a confirmed sunna, because it was from the consistent practice and encouragement of the Beloved Messenger of Allah (peace & blessings be upon him & his folk). [Marghinani, Hidaya]

This sunna is fulfilled both by either wiping the area or by washing—though doing both is more complete. [Ayni/Marghinani, al-Binaya Sharh al-Hidaya; Shurunbulali, Maraqi al-Falah]

Missing a sunna doesn’t render one’s actions invalid. Thus, both your wudu and your prayer are valid without having done istinja’. However, you do miss out on some of the rewards. [ibid.]

This is true even if filth remained on the private parts. [ibid; Ibn Abidin, Radd al-Muhtar]

I would encourage you to take one of the introductory courses on worship at SeekersGuidance. All our courses are completely free.

And Allah is the giver of success and facilitation.

[Shaykh] Faraz Rabbani

 

Shaykh Faraz Rabbani spent ten years studying with some of the leading scholars of recent times, first in Damascus, and then in Amman, Jordan. His teachers include the foremost theologian of recent times in Damascus, the late Shaykh Adib al-Kallas (may Allah have mercy on him), as well as his student Shaykh Hassan al-Hindi, one of the leading Hanafi fuqaha of the present age. He returned to Canada in 2007, where he founded SeekersGuidance in order to meet the urgent need to spread Islamic knowledge–both online and on the ground–in a reliable, relevant, inspiring, and accessible manner. He is the author of: Absolute Essentials of Islam: Faith, Prayer, and the Path of Salvation According to the Hanafi School (White Thread Press, 2004.) Since 2011, Shaykh Faraz has been named one of the 500 most influential Muslims by the Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Center.