❖ 3 Rulings on Istinjā’ in Light of Authentic Hadiths ❖
📚 Taken from: Fatāwā ad-Dīn al-Khāliṣ, Volume 1, Page 314
❀ Question:
Does the Sunnah classify istinjā’ into three distinct categories?
✔ Ruling on Istinjā’ According to Sharīʿah
Istinjā’ refers to cleaning impurity (najāsah) from the private parts (sabīlayn) after urination or defecation. The following rulings apply:
➊ When Impurity Does Not Go Beyond the Outlet (Makhraj):
◈ In this case, istinjā’ is Sunnah (recommended).
However, “Sunnah” here means a practice the Prophet ﷺ always adhered to, not something optional or occasionally done.
➋ When Impurity Exceeds the Outlet But Is Less Than a Dirham in Size:
◈ Here, istinjā’ is wājib (obligatory).
The impurity, although small, has gone beyond its natural place, making cleansing mandatory.
➌ When Impurity Exceeds a Dirham in Size:
◈ In this case, istinjā’ is also wājib, and this is supported by authentic ḥadīths.
📜 Authentic Hadith Evidence
✔ Abū Hurayrah (رضي الله عنه) narrates:
“The Prophet ﷺ commanded [the use of] three stones [for cleaning].”
(Sunan Abī Dāwūd, Tirmidhī, Musnad Aḥmad)
✔ Salman al-Fārsī (رضي الله عنه) said:
“The Prophet ﷺ forbade us from using less than three stones.”
(Sunan Abī Dāwūd, al-Nasā’ī, al-Mishkāh 1/42)
➤ These narrations affirm that istinjā’ is not optional; it is required when impurity exists, regardless of how little.
❗ Misconception About Categorization into Three Types
Some propose that istinjā’ has three distinct categories, assigning:
- Sunnah status in minimal impurity,
- Wājib in moderate impurity,
- More strict ruling in excess impurity.
But this breakdown has no basis in Sharīʿah. The following principles clarify:
◈ The Prophet ﷺ never exited the toilet without cleansing using water or stones.
◈ There is no evidence in Sunnah supporting the idea of variable rulings based on impurity size.
◈ In usūl al-fiqh, a command (amr) from the Prophet ﷺ implies obligation, unless a contextual reason (qarīnah ṣārifah) suggests otherwise.
✅ Conclusion:
✔ The division of istinjā’ into three categories with different rulings is invalid in Sharīʿah.
✔ Every impurity must be removed if it has gone beyond the outlet—regardless of its size.
✔ Neglecting istinjā’ is not permitted, and doing so contradicts both the Prophet’s ﷺ consistent practice and his explicit commands.
ھٰذا ما عندي، والله أعلم بالصواب
