Answered by Sidi Suheil Laher
Is it recommended or required to use water for istinja? If required, how much water is required? Is wiping with damp toilet paper enough or does the water need to flow?
Walaikum assalam wa rahmatullah,
1. Using water is obligatory in istinja (removing filth from one’s private parts after using the toilet) if the filth has spread out from its point of exit by more than the size of a dirham (approximately a circle of 6cm radius as mentioned by some contemporary scholars).
This is so as to wash away the extra unexcused amount of filth.
2. If the filth is less than 6 cm in diameter beyond the point of exiting then istinja itself remains a confirmed sunna (sunna mu’akkada), and not obligatory.
This sunna can be fulfilled either by washing with water, which is superior, or wiping with a dry, value-less substance such as toilet paper in our times.
3. If one removes the trace of the filth by wiping with toilet paper, one has fulfilled the sunna of istinja and using water after it is merely superior, and not necessary. Infact, one should use dry paper rather than wet, so as not to spread the filth. The scholars mention that the superior course of action is to use both a dry substance such as toilet paper followed by washing with water.
4. The amount of water that is required is the amount by which one can remove the substance (ain) and the traces (athar). [al-Shurunbulali, Maraqi al-Falah]
It is really quite a simple procedure and does not require large amounts of water.
5. Places where people relieve themselves are gathering sites for devils, as the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) told us. People spending unnecessary time on the toilet, scrubbing themselves senselessly, are merely prolonging their sitting in the company of devils.
And Allah knows best.
Sohail Hanif