Is Istinja Required After Passing Wind? – Complete Shar‘i Guidance

Source: Fatawa Arkan al-Islam

Ruling in Brief​

When wind passes from the back passage, wudu is nullified but istinja (washing the private parts) is not obligatory.

Evidence from the Sunnah​

The Prophet ﷺ said:


«لَا يَنْصَرِفْ حَتَّى يَسْمَعَ صَوْتًا أَوْ يَجِدَ رِيحًا»


“He should not leave (the prayer) until he hears a sound or detects a smell.”
(Bukhari 137; Muslim 361)


This shows:

• Passing wind breaks wudu.
• However, no impurity exits that requires washing the private parts.
• Therefore, only performing wudu is required, not istinja.

Complete Wudu Steps in This Case​

When wind is passed, the person should perform a full wudu:

1. Rinse the mouth (madmadah).
2. Clean the nose (istinshaq).
3. Wash the face.
4. Wash the arms including elbows.
5. Wipe the head and ears.
6. Wash the feet including ankles.

No washing of the private parts is needed unless another impurity has exited.

Correction of a Common Misunderstanding​

• Some people relieve themselves (urination or defecation), wash themselves (istinja), and later — before prayer — perform wudu.
• They think they must wash their private parts again during wudu.
• This is incorrect:
  
  • Once the private parts have been washed and are pure, there is no need to wash them again unless impurity exits again.

Purpose of istinja:

• Remove physical impurity from the private parts.
• Once purity is achieved, repeating istinja without reason is unnecessary.

Final Ruling:

• Passing wind requires wudu only, not istinja.
• Istinja is only repeated when actual impurity exits the body.

ھٰذا ما عندی والله أعلم بالصواب