Answered by Shaykh Yusuf Weltch
Question
Recently I started urinating on the toilet seat with my legs open to avoid any discharge touching my thighs due to suffering from severe doubts. From a few days ago I noticed that urine splashes on the front of the toilet seat. I have also contracted a bladder infection ever since I noticed the splashes on the toilet seat. My question is:
- Is it possible that it has splashed further? For example my clothes or underwear? I haven’t thought about that till now.
- Is it possible that the splashes occurred before I noticed a few days ago? My thighs usually slide together. So if it did happen before this, and I didn’t notice and my thighs slid over the toilet seat, did it go onto my thighs? And are my prayers invalid?
- Can I just assume that the splashes have occurred ever since I started noticing them?
I am also getting doubtful that the urine on the toilet seat may have touched my thighs in some way. I lightly wipe the front of the seat and pour water on that area with the vessel. Sometimes water spreads to my thighs or my hand hits that area of the toilet seat during istinja. My hand also hits the under part of the seat during istinja too (splashes may have occurred there).
Answer
In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate
May Allah ease your difficulty
Knowledge of the Problem is Half the Cure
I am pleased to see that you know of your problem with doubts and misgivings (waswasa). That is the first step to curing it so that you can focus on worshipping Allah Most High.
Splashes are Excused
Small splashes are excused due to it being difficult to avoid. Your previous prayers are not affected and there is no need to worry.
“The splashes of urine like the tips of needles are excused, even if a lot. Likewise, even if they are the size of the eye of the needle in which the thread is inserted. This is due to necessity. Thus it is excused even if the body and clothing are full of these splashes. It is not necessary to wash” [Shurunbulali, Maraqi al-Falah]
How to Purify a Toilet Seat
If the toilet seat is affected with impurity it can be purified in the following manners:
- If the toilet seat is smooth and not porous (like most ceramic seats are) wiping off the impurity is sufficient. There is no need to wash.
- If, however, the seat is porous then a light washing is sufficient. The seat is pure once the traces of urine (i.e. color) are gone. [Shurunbulali, Maraqi al-Falah]
How to Deal with Impurities
Allah Most High has not to burden anyone beyond their capacity. He, Most High says, “And Allah has not put, upon you, in the religion, any undue hardship.” [Quran, 22:78]
Apply the principle ‘Everything is pure until proven otherwise.’ Thus, until and unless you have near certainty that wetness is impure, assume its purity. One should not allow the Shaytan to place misgivings in their heart.
These types of misgivings are all too common in regard to matters of purification. Shaytan plays on people’s sincerity in their religion and incites them toward false caution.
What is True Caution?
True caution is to follow the Sunna of the Prophet (may Allah bless him and give him peace).
Misgivings (Waswasa)
For the one who is constantly in doubt abandoning caution is often the best cure.
“As for the one who is often inflicted with misgivings, it is necessary for them to sever the cause of the misgivings and not to give it any consideration. This is because it is the doing of Shaytan and we have been commanded to oppose him.” [Hashiyat Ibn ‘Abidin]
Knowledge
The long-term cure for these constant doubts is to seek a deeper understanding of Islamic Knowledge. With knowledge, Shaytan can not deceive you with his whispers and plots. I would advise that you find authentic scholars in your area and study with them a basic text in Islamic Jurisprudence.
Please note that SeekersGuidance.org has classes available in Islamic Jurisprudence and many other subjects.
May Allah ease all of your affairs and protect you and us from the plots of Shaytan
Allah A’lam
[Shaykh] Yusuf Weltch
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani