Is the Water that Splashes while Washing Ourselves in the Restroom Impure?

Question: Is the water that splashes while washing ourselves in the restroom impure? Is the toilet seat which is shared by other considered pure? How many times must I flush the toilet bowl?

Answer:

In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate

As you pour water to clean yourself (istinja) after having relieved yourself, your private parts and your hands become pure. Likewise, anything that the water from the jug splashes on is pure as well [Tahtawi/Shurunbulali, Hashiyat Maraqi al-Falah].

The only splashing that is not considered pure is splashing from the toilet bowl water onto your body. For this reason, one should pour slowly and not excessively to avoid splashing.

Toilet Seat

The toilet seat is considered pure regardless of how many people share it. Any water found on the toilet seat is to be assumed pure water. This is because of the principle that all water is pure until proven otherwise [Tahtawi/Shurunbulali, Hashiyat Maraqi al-Falah].

If, however, you are reasonably sure or certain that there are impurities on the toilet seat, a mere wiping off the seat is sufficient to purify it [Tahtawi/Shurunbulali, Hashiyat Maraqi al-Falah].

If you sit on a seat that is wet, consider the wetness to be from pure water. Deeming the wetness to be from impurities demands proof. Thus if you are not reasonably sure that it is impure, consider it pure and don’t second guess.

You do not need to wash the seat after you use it. If there is some wetness you may wipe it dry but it is not necessary as the wetness is pure.

Flushing the Toilet

The toilet seat is meant for the disposal of human waste. Flush the toilet once and that is sufficient. Flushing multiple time without need is a waste of water and can become sinful if excessive [Tahtawi/Shurunbulali, Hashiyat Maraqi al-Falah].

Normal Use of the Restroom

After relieving yourself, it should take less than a minute to thoroughly clean yourself from impurities. If you find that it is taking you much longer than this, then try to restrict yourself to a one-minute time limit. Wash for one minute and stand up. Ignore any thoughts of remaining impurities.

These thoughts are baseless, harmful, and are from the whispers of Shaytan called waswasa.

Misgivings (Waswasa)

These types of misgivings are all too common in regard to matters of purification. Shaytan plays on people’s sincerity in their religion and incites them toward false caution.

True caution is to follow the Sunna of the Prophet (may Allah bless him and give him peace).

For the one who is constantly in doubt abandoning caution is often the best cure.

“As for the one who is often inflicted with misgivings, it is necessary for them to sever the cause of the misgivings and not to give it any consideration. This is because it is the doing of Shaytan and we have been commanded to oppose him” [Ibn ‘Abidin, Radd al-Muhtar].

The long-term cure for these constant doubts is to seek a deeper understanding of Islamic Knowledge. With knowledge, Shaytan can not deceive you with his whispers and plots. I would advise that you find authentic scholars in your area and study with them a basic text in Islamic Jurisprudence.

Please note that SeekersGuidance.org has classes available in Islamic Jurisprudence and many other subjects.

May Allah ease all of your affairs and protect you and us from the plots of Shaytan.

Allah knows best
[Shaykh] Yusuf Weltch

Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Shaykh Yusuf Weltch is a graduate from Tarim; a student of Habib Umar and other luminaries; and authorized teachers of the Qur’an and the Islamic sciences