Is it better to use water (istinja') or stones (istijmar) after defecating, especially since some say that istinja' is not good practice?

The best approach when relieving oneself is to combine water with something that serves the purpose of a stone, like a tissue, for purification (istinja'). This achieves the highest level of cleanliness. However, if one limits oneself to only one of them, then water is better, purer, and more agreeable than using stones or tissues for istijmar.