On awakening from sleep, a person should
not put his hands in the water (container) until and unless he washes his hands up to his
wrists irrespective of whether the hands are pure or impure. If water has been kept in a
small container, such as a pitcher or jug, then it should be carried with the left hand
and poured onto the right hand and washed three times. Thereafter, the utensil should be
taken into the right hand and the left hand should be washed three times. If the water is
not kept in a small container, but in a big drum, etc., then it should be taken out with a
small utensil, such as a jug. Care should be taken that the fingers do not touch the
water. If there is no small utensil, then water should be taken out with the palm of the
left hand. As far as possible, very little of the fingers should be put in the water. On
taking out the water, first the right hand should be washed, and thereafter, as much of
the right hand can be put in the water. On taking out water, the left hand should be
washed. This method of washing the hands is only permissible if the hands are not
impure. If they are impure, then under no condition should the hands be put in the drum.
Water should be taken out in such a way that it does not become impure. For example, a
clean handkerchief could be dipped in the water and whatever comes onto the handkie could
be used to purify the hands. Alternatively, any other possible method could be used to
purify them.
It is sunnah to make istinja
of those impurities emitted from the anterior or posterior private parts.
If the impurity does not stick to the
sides (or anywhere else), and a person does not use water for istinja, but instead
uses pure stones or lumps of clay, and wipes in such a way that the impurity goes away and
the body gets clean; then this will also be permissible. But this method is contrary to
purity consciousness. If there is no water or a shortage of it, then there is no
alternative but to cleanse oneself in this way.
There is no special method for using
stones. But care should be taken that the impurity does not spread and the body gets
thoroughly cleaned.
After having made istinja with
stones, it is sunnat to make istinja with water. But if the impurity spreads
more than the size of a fifty cents coin, it will be wajib to wash with water.
Without washing, salaat will not be valid. If the impurity has not spread, then even after
purifying with stones alone, salaat will be valid, but this is contrary to the sunnat.
When making istinja with water,
first the hands up to the wrists should be washed. Thereafter go to a secluded spot, and
after loosening the clothes, sit down. Wash until you are thoroughly satisfied that the
body is clean. But if a person is always in doubt and he uses a lot of water, and still he
is not fully satisfied, then he should wash three or seven times and not more than this.
If a secluded place cannot be found,
then for the sake of making istinja with water, one should not expose one's private
parts, neither to women nor men. In such a case, istinja should not be made with
water (but stones). Salaat should be offered without having made istinja (with
water). This is because the exposing of one's body is a major sin.
Making istinja with the following
objects is a sin and prohibited, and should be abstained from: bones, impurities such as
cow-dung and droppings of goats, coal, coarse limestone, glass, baked bricks, edibles,
paper, etc. It is also sinful to make istinja with the right hand. But if someone
does this, the body will be cleaned.
It is prohibited to stand and urinate.
It is prohibited to face or turn one's
back towards the qiblah when passing stool or urinating.
It is also prohibited and makruh
to make small children to face the qiblah and pass stool or urinate.
It is permissible to use the left-over
water of istinja for wudhu. It is also permissible to use the left over water of
wudhu for istinja, but not to do so is better.
When entering the toilet, Bismillah
should be read outside, and then the following dua should be read:
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