Does the Water Used for Istinja Impure The Surrounding Area? – Mawlana Ilyas Patel

Answered by Mawlana Ilyas Patel

Question

While doing istinja for urine, istinja water not only flows through the site of urine but also the area around it, for example, some part of the buttocks in the case of a female). Let’s say it’s the same istinja water that removed the urine and is also flowing through the area around it. So is it considered impure, and does that mean the area around has to be washed now? I suffer from misgivings, and it’s difficult for me.

In case I’m supposed to wash it, if I pour water over the area around while wiping it with my hand, does my hand also become impure, and does it make the area impure again?

Answer

In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate

I pray you are in good faith and health. Thank you for your question.

Water that is used to wash up after istinja does not make the surrounding area impure. When you pour water over the area to wash, subsequent water and pouring will be pure. The first pouring removes the impurity, and the same with your hands too. However, one should wash the hands after to clean away the bacteria.

Istibra (Process of Cleaning the Urethra)

The process of ensuring that there are no traces of urine at the point of exit is called “istibra’.”

The duty to perform istibra’ is only incumbent upon men. Women don’t have to perform istibra’ to be able to pray a valid prayer afterward. A woman simply needs to wait for a little after urinating, and that’s it. 

[Ibn Abidin, Radd al-Muhtar]

Just learn to wash up, find out what is the right thing to do, and simply do it., then ignore. Learn about the correct way, then leave it to Allah Most High, and thank Him, it will make Shaytan leave you not doubting, and He will be in despair.

I would like you to go through the valuable answers and links below. You will receive guidance and direction in sha Allah.

Related Answers

How Should One Properly Do Istinja and Wudu? – (seekersguidance.org)

How Can Women Clean Themselves after Urine in Public Places? – (seekersguidance.org)

A Reader on OCD and Waswasa (Baseless Misgivings) (seekersguidance.org)

Why not begin your search for knowledge by signing up for a course on SeekersAcademy (seekersguidance.org)?

I pray this helps with your question.

[Mawlana] Ilyas Patel
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Mawlana Ilyas Patel is a traditionally-trained scholar who has studied within UK, India, Pakistan, Syria, Jordan and Turkey.

He started his early education in UK. He went onto complete hifz of Qur’an in India, then enrolled into an Islamic seminary in UK where he studied the secular and Alimiyyah sciences. He then travelled to Karachi, Pakistan.

He has been an Imam in Rep of Ireland for a number of years. He has taught hifz of the Qur’an, Tajwid, Fiqh and many other Islamic sciences to both children and adults onsite and online extensively in UK and Ireland. He was teaching at a local Islamic seminary for 12 years in the UK where he was a librarian and a teacher of Islamic sciences.

He currently resides in UK with his wife. His personal interest is love of books and gardening.