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Is it permissible to perform istijmar with the left hand directly when tissues are unavailable?

1 min readAlso available in العربية

It is permissible to perform istinja' (cleaning oneself after relieving nature) with the left hand, even if stones and tissues are available. It is preferable to begin by removing the substance of impurity with something pure and cleansing, and then with water. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, forbade istinja' with the right hand, as his right hand was for eating, drinking, and giving, and his left hand was for other matters. It is sunnah to wash the hand with soap or the like after finishing relieving oneself.

Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026

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