Is it permissible to perform istinja' (ritual cleansing after defecating or urinating) using the dry left hand (wiping the glans with it) when water and tissues are unavailable, and it is difficult to use stones?
Source: FtawySummary from Ftawy's records · added here Sep 2, 2026
It is permissible to perform ' (cleansing after defecation or urination) with the left hand, and it suffices if it cleanses thoroughly. It is recommended to use the left hand for istijmar (cleansing with stones or similar solid objects) if one intends to follow it with water. If one intends to suffice with it alone, then it is either obligatory or depending on the ruling of removing impurity. This applies when one does not find anything else to perform istijmar with. Otherwise, it is permissible if one follows it with water, but it is disliked if one suffices with it alone.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
Read the full answer on Ftawyhttps://ftawy.com/en/questions/178755
Where this answer came from
- Source platform
- Ftawy
- Original fatwa ID
- 178755
- Added here
- . This is when the answer was added to El Fatwa, not the fatwa's date.
- Text
- Summary from Ftawy's records, reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
- Read the full ruling
- Read the full answer on Ftawy