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Is it necessary to use one's hand for istinja' (washing after defecation or urination), or are papers or water hoses sufficient?

1 min readAlso available in العربية

After relieving oneself, it is obligatory to remove impurity with any purifier, and water is best. It is permissible to suffice with a water hose if it completely removes the impurity. When using stones (istijmar), it is a condition to use three wipes or more until the area is cleansed, based on the Hadith of Salman, may Allah be pleased with him: "Our Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, forbade us... from cleaning ourselves with less than three stones." It is permissible to use a single stone with multiple sides or a large tissue if it removes the impurity.

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

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