What is the ruling on the prayers I have performed over 20 years, given that I used to wet my left hand with water and rub my penis to remove impurity, to avoid water splashing? And why is it impermissible to wipe or rub the penis with a wet hand, even though this is more effective in purification than wiping with tissues? And how can I avoid water droplets splashing when pouring water to cleanse impurity?

Washing after relieving oneself with water means washing the area until the impurity itself and its trace are removed. As for using stones or what is akin to them, it means cleansing the area with no fewer than three wipes. Washing after relieving oneself by wetting the hand and wiping the penis with it is not valid for several reasons:

1. In reality, it is cleansing with the hand, not with water. Jurists have explicitly prohibited cleansing with an attached hand, such as the hand or the heel. 2. The hand is wet, and cleansing with something wet is not sufficient because it spreads the impurity. A dry tissue is what does not spread the impurity. 3. The Prophet (peace be upon him) forbade cleansing with the right hand, which implies not using the hand for cleansing.

If the cleansing is not valid, scholars have differed regarding the validity of ablution performed before it. Some hold that it is not valid, while others consider it valid (which is the view of the Shafi’is and one of the two narrations from the Hanbalis). According to the view that ablution is nullified, the matter is clear. However, according to the view that it is valid, the ruling concerning prayers performed with the presence of impurity remains. Many scholars are of the opinion that such prayers must be made up, while others hold that there is no obligation to make them up for one who was ignorant.