❖ 8 Shari’ah Evidences for Using Stones for Istinjā’ Even When Water Is Available ❖
Taken from: Fatāwā ad-Dīn al-Khāliṣ, Volume 1, Page 306
Is it permissible to perform istinjā’ with stones even when water is available?
Yes — it is permissible without dislike (bila karāhah) to perform istinjā’ with stones even if water is present.
This was the regular practice of the Prophet ﷺ and the majority of the Companions (رضي الله عنهم).
Those who reject this practice or consider it invalid fall into bid‘ah (innovation) and ignorance, contradicting authentic Sunnah.
“The Messenger of Allah ﷺ went to relieve himself and asked me to bring three stones. I found two and brought a dung piece as the third.
He ﷺ threw away the dung and took the stones, saying:
‘This (dung) is impure.’”
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Aḥmad, Dāraqutnī)
✔ Demonstrates that stone usage was commanded even when other options existed, and impure materials were rejected, not stones.
“When any one of you uses stones for cleansing, let him use them in odd numbers.”
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī)
✔ Emphasizes ritual completion using 3, 5, or 7 stones, even without water.
The Prophet ﷺ forbade:
✔ Clear guidelines for stone-based istinjā’, not conditioned on absence of water.
✔ Stone istinjā’ is documented in:
All schools of Islamic law and major jurists agree on the validity of using stones for istinjā’ if impurity is removed.
He states:
“The ḥadīth of Salmān is authentic. Most of the Companions and scholars after them said that stone-based istinjā’ is sufficient, even if water is not used, provided impurity is removed.”
Claiming that water must be used when available, or that prayer is invalid if only stones are used despite water being present — this is:
“Using stones for istinjā’ is established from the Prophet ﷺ, as is istinjā’ with water.
Both are authentic Sunnah, and there’s no textual evidence requiring combination.”
Some individuals falsely believe:
“If someone who performed istinjā’ with stones is touched, the prayer of the other person is invalid.”
This belief is:
✔ Istinjā’ with stones is valid, even in the presence of water,
✔ There is no requirement to combine both,
✔ The Prophet ﷺ and his Companions frequently used stones,
✔ Denying this is bidʿah, and such views must be corrected,
✔ The Sunnah should be followed as it is, without imposing unnecessary restrictions.
ھٰذا ما عندي، والله أعلم بالصواب
Taken from: Fatāwā ad-Dīn al-Khāliṣ, Volume 1, Page 306❀ Question:
Is it permissible to perform istinjā’ with stones even when water is available?
Ruling
Yes — it is permissible without dislike (bila karāhah) to perform istinjā’ with stones even if water is present.
This was the regular practice of the Prophet ﷺ and the majority of the Companions (رضي الله عنهم).
Those who reject this practice or consider it invalid fall into bid‘ah (innovation) and ignorance, contradicting authentic Sunnah.
◈ 8 Evidences Supporting This Practice
➊ Hadith of ʿAbdullāh ibn Masʿūd (رضي الله عنه)
“The Messenger of Allah ﷺ went to relieve himself and asked me to bring three stones. I found two and brought a dung piece as the third.
He ﷺ threw away the dung and took the stones, saying:
‘This (dung) is impure.’”
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Aḥmad, Dāraqutnī)
✔ Demonstrates that stone usage was commanded even when other options existed, and impure materials were rejected, not stones.
➋ Hadith on Odd Number of Stones
“When any one of you uses stones for cleansing, let him use them in odd numbers.”
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī)
✔ Emphasizes ritual completion using 3, 5, or 7 stones, even without water.
➌ Hadith of Salmān al-Fārsī (رضي الله عنه)
The Prophet ﷺ forbade:
- Facing the Qiblah while relieving oneself,
- Using the right hand for cleansing,
- Using fewer than three stones,
- Using bones and dung for cleansing.
(Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim)
✔ Clear guidelines for stone-based istinjā’, not conditioned on absence of water.
➍ Consensus of Scholars and Jurists (Ijmaʿ Jamhūr al-ʿUlamāʾ)
✔ Stone istinjā’ is documented in:
- Ṣaḥīḥayn (Bukhārī & Muslim),
- Sunan books,
- Muwaṭṭaʾ,
- Musnad Aḥmad, etc.
All schools of Islamic law and major jurists agree on the validity of using stones for istinjā’ if impurity is removed.
➎ Imām al-Tirmidhī’s Commentary
He states:
“The ḥadīth of Salmān is authentic. Most of the Companions and scholars after them said that stone-based istinjā’ is sufficient, even if water is not used, provided impurity is removed.”
➏ Rejection of False Claim: “Water Must Be Used If Present”
Claiming that water must be used when available, or that prayer is invalid if only stones are used despite water being present — this is:
- An innovation,
- Contradicts prophetic Sunnah,
- A statement deserving retraction or disciplinary correction (taʿzīr) if persisted in.
➐ Statement from al-Sunan al-Mubtadaʿāt
“Using stones for istinjā’ is established from the Prophet ﷺ, as is istinjā’ with water.
Both are authentic Sunnah, and there’s no textual evidence requiring combination.”
➑ Refutation of Superstitious Beliefs
Some individuals falsely believe:
“If someone who performed istinjā’ with stones is touched, the prayer of the other person is invalid.”
This belief is:
- Irrational,
- Baseless,
- Contrary to the Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ and his Companions.
Conclusion:
✔ Istinjā’ with stones is valid, even in the presence of water,
✔ There is no requirement to combine both,
✔ The Prophet ﷺ and his Companions frequently used stones,
✔ Denying this is bidʿah, and such views must be corrected,
✔ The Sunnah should be followed as it is, without imposing unnecessary restrictions.
ھٰذا ما عندي، والله أعلم بالصواب
