How Can I End Urine Drops Quickly? (Shafi’i)

Answered by Shaykh Abdurragmaan Khan

Question: Assalam alaykum,

After using the bathroom I use toilet paper to clean up the remaining drops of urine. This however takes a very long time. Everytime I squeeze and get rid of the drop another one takes it’s place. Do I have to get rid of the drops that are stuck?

Answer: Wa alaykum assalam

Jazak Allah khayr for your question.

Ensuring one cleans oneself correctly when using the lavatory is of utmost importance. The Messenger. Allah bless him and give him peace, walked by two graves on one occasion and said, “They are being punished (in their graves) for something which was not difficult to avoid. One of them did not avoid soiling himself with urine (while using the lavatory) and the other used to carry tales.” [Al-Bukhari]. What this effectively means is that one should take care and be sure that he has cleaned himself correctly after urinating or passing stool.

The condition you may be suffering from is called post-micturition dribble (PMD), or after-dribble. It is a common problem, in varying degrees, among men of all ages. Acknowledging the commonness of the condition, our jurist advised one to practice istibra’ or ensuring one relieves the urethra from residual urine.

Imam al-Nawawi stated in his al-Majmu‘, “al-Istibra’ or evacuating residual urine from the urethra differs from person to person. What is required is for the individual to have predominant thought that the urethra is cleared from urine that he fears may exit. Some may achieve this by the slightest squeeze. Others may have to squeeze repeatedly. Some may have to cough. While others may not need to do any of the above. It is essential though that one does not become afflicted with waswasa (doubtful whispering).”

What has proven to be very effective and may shorten the time it takes for droplets of urine to stop appearing, is to massage the bulbar section of the urethera as explained below:

• Bulbar urethral massage: The patient can be taught bulbar urethral massage, also known as bulbar urethral elevation or urethral milking. The patient is taught to place his fingers behind his scrotum after voiding and to gently massage his bulbar urethra in a forwards and upwards direction. This ‘milks’ the urine retained in the bulbar urethra out of the urethra. Teaching the patient to tighten his pelvic floor muscles prior to undertaking bulbar urethral massage may help to prevent further leakage (Dorey, 2000). [Understanding post-micturition dribble incontinence in men: NT 22 July 2003 Vol 99 No 29 www.nursingtimes.net]

In conclusion, it is a requirement for you to ensure that the droplets of urine have been removed. Using any of the above methods will most certainly shorten the period that it takes to clear up. Possibly the best long term solution would pelvic floor exercises. If your situation does not improve, you may consult a doctor.

And Allah knows best.

Wassalam

[Shaykh] Abdurragmaan Khan

Shaykh Abdurragmaan received ijazah ’ammah from various luminaries, including but not restricted to: Habib Umar ibn Hafiz—a personality who affected him greatly and who has changed his relationship with Allah, Maulana Yusuf Karaan—the former Mufti of Cape Town; Habib ‘Ali al-Mashhur—the current Mufti of Tarim; Habib ‘Umar al-Jaylani—the Shafi‘i Mufti of Makkah; Sayyid Ahmad bin Abi Bakr al-Hibshi; Habib Kadhim as-Saqqaf; Shaykh Mahmud Sa’id Mamduh; Maulana Abdul Hafiz al-Makki; Shaykh Ala ad-Din al-Afghani; Maulana Fazlur Rahman al-Azami and Shaykh Yahya al-Gawthani amongst others.

Photo: Emdot