Answered by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
Please could you tell me if it valid for a male to wipe themselves thoroughly using toilet paper instead of using water, after they have used the toilet? will they be clean if the use just toilet paper?
Walaikum assalam,
It is a strong confirmed sunna for both men and women to cleanse their private parts after using the toilet. This sunna may be fulfilled in three ways:
1. The optimal is to first use a toilet paper or the like, and wipe the area clean. Then, one should wash the area with water.
2. To wash the area clean with water alone. This follows in optimality.
3. To wipe the area clean with toilet paper or its equivalent only. This is the least optimal, but also fulfills the sunna, and there is nothing wrong with this. [Maraqi, Radd al-Muhtar]
Wassalam,
Faraz Rabbani.