❖ Complete Explanation Regarding the Number of Stones for Istinja
Source: Fatawa al-Din al-Khalis, Vol. 1, Page 300
❀ Question:
What is the required number of stones or clods for performing Istinja? And is this number specific to defecation, or does it apply to both urination and defecation?
✔ Answer:
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu was-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, Ammā baʿd!
✿ Three Methods of Performing Istinja:
① Performing Istinja using only water
② Performing Istinja using only stones
③ Performing Istinja using both water and stones
◈ The First Two Methods:
These two methods are proven from authentic Hadiths.
◈ The Third Method:
No authentic Hadith with a sound chain of narration supports this method.
There exists only one weak narration stating that the people of Quba used both water and stones, as mentioned in the following Quranic verse:
﴿فيهِ رِجالٌ يُحِبّونَ أَن يَتَطَهَّروا ۚ وَاللَّـهُ يُحِبُّ المُطَّهِّرينَ ١٠٨﴾
(Surah al-Tawbah: 108)
Imam Nawawi, Hafiz Ibn Hajar, Ibn Kathir, and Shaykh Albani (رحمهم الله) have all classified this narration as weak (Tamām al-Minnah, p. 65).
In Sunan Abi Dawood (7/1, Hadith: 44), a narration about the people of Quba exists but does not mention the use of stones.
Imam al-Bayhaqi (1/10) has reported a narration in which ʿAlī ibn Abī Ṭālib (رضي الله عنه) said:
“Indeed, they would pass dry stools like droppings, while you pass soft stools like dung, so use water after stones.”
This narration is also weak due to the following:
- It is mawqūf (a statement of a Companion)
- There is a gap between ʿAbd al-Malik and ʿAlī (رضي الله عنه)
- The narrator is mudallis, and samaʿ is not established
Mawlānā ʿAbd al-Ḥayy has mentioned this narration in the footnotes of al-Hidāyah.
✿ Third Type of Istinja (Using Both Water and Stones):
Some scholars have deemed it mustaḥabb (recommended), but there is no clear evidence to support this view.
At most, it can be considered mubāḥ (permissible), as mentioned in al-Mughnī (1/184).
Ibn Qudāmah (رحمه الله) states:
“If one performs Istinja with water, there is no need for stones.”
Imam Ahmad (رحمه الله) said:
“Water alone is sufficient, and it is not reported from the Prophet ﷺ that he used soil along with water for Istinja, nor did he command it.”
❖ Clarification Regarding Number in Istinja
✔ If Istinja is Performed Using Stones Only:
Then the number is obligatory.
✔ If Water is Also Used:
Then the number is not obligatory.
❀ Authentic Hadiths as Evidence:
➊ Hadith of Salman (رضي الله عنه):
“We were prohibited from:
◈ Performing Istinja with the right hand
◈ Using less than three stones for Istinja
◈ Using dung or bones for Istinja”
(Muslim 1/130, Tirmidhi 1/9, Mishkat 1/42)
➋ Hadith of Abu Hurairah (رضي الله عنه):
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
“I am like a father to you. When you go to relieve yourselves, do not face the Qiblah or turn your back to it, and use three stones for Istinja.”
(Ibn Majah 1/57, Darimi 1/138, Mishkat 1/42, Abu Dawood Hadith: 6 – Authentic Chain)
➌ Hadith of ʿĀ’ishah (رضي الله عنها):
“When any of you goes to relieve himself, he should take three stones with him for Istinja; they will suffice.”
(Abu Dawood 1/6, Nasa’i 1/16, Darimi 1/137, Mishkat 1/42, Ahmad 6/108–133 – Authentic Chain)
➍ Hadith of Khuzaymah ibn Thābit (رضي الله عنه):
“Use three stones for Istinja and avoid using dung.”
(Abu Dawood Hadith: 31, Ibn Majah 1/57, Darimi 1/137 – Authentic Chain)
All these narrations clearly mention the use of three stones.
✿ Important Points Regarding Use of Stones:
◈ If a single stone has three corners, then wiping three times is sufficient.
◈ Using three separate stones is more virtuous.
◈ Smooth clay or wood may serve as substitutes for stones — as reported by Imam Nawawi from the majority of scholars.
◈ Three stones are agreed upon for the posterior (dubr).
❖ What About the Anterior (qubul)?
Imam Nawawi (رحمه الله) states:
“For purification of both anterior and posterior, wiping six times (three for each) is preferable.”
“If a stone has six corners, it is permissible.”
(Sharḥ Muslim 1/131, Sharḥ al-Muhadhdhab 2/103, al-ʿUrf al-Shadhī 1/10)
Even during the time of the Salaf, the use of three stones after urination was known.
✔ Further Evidence for the Obligation of Three Stones:
◈ There is no explicit evidence supporting the obligation of six stones.
◈ All authentic Hadiths stress the use of only three stones.
✿ Refutation of Argument from Weak Narrations:
Some weak Hadiths include:
“Whoever performs Istinja with three stones has done well, and whoever does not, there is no harm.”
(Abu Dawood 1/6, Mishkat Hadith: 352)
This is weak because:
- Both narrators, Ḥuṣayn al-Ḥibrānī and Abu Saʿīd, are unknown.
Hadith of Ibn Masʿūd (رضي الله عنه):
“He brought two stones and dung; the Prophet ﷺ threw away the dung.”
Some narrations mention: “Bring me a third stone.”
Even if this narration is criticized as disconnected (munqaṭiʿ), Hafiz Ibn Hajar (رحمه الله) stated in Fatḥ al-Bārī (1/207):
“I have found a connected version of this narration.”
Even if weak, the request for a third stone does not necessarily imply that the third was not already present.
✔ Fundamental Principle:
◈ A verbal Hadith (with a clear command) is preferred over a practical narration.
◈ And when there is no contextual indication, a command (amr) implies obligation.
Conclusion:
◈ When performing Istinja using only stones, it is obligatory to use at least three stones.
◈ When using both stones and water, the number is not obligatory.
All authentic Hadiths summarize that the use of three stones is sufficient and Sunnah, and there exists no authentic narration to the contrary.
هٰذا ما عندي، والله أعلم بالصواب
