Read the bilingual lesson for Istibra and Istinja: Rulings and Method and test your understanding with a focused quiz.
Lesson
1. Istibra Before Wudu
Source text
يَلْزَمُ الرَّجُلَ الِاسْتِبْرَاءُ حَتَّى يَزُولَ أَثَرُ الْبَوْلِ وَيَطْمَئِنَّ قَلْبُهُ عَلَى حَسَبِ عَادَتِهِ ... وَلَا يَجُوزُ لَهُ الشُّرُوعُ فِي الْوُضُوءِ حَتَّى يَطْمَئِنَّ بِزَوَالِ رَشْحِ الْبَوْلِ
• After urination, a man waits according to his normal need until he is reasonably confident that urine has stopped.
• The text mentions ordinary means such as walking, coughing or lying down; the method depends on the person's normal need.
• He should not begin Wudu while he still expects urine to emerge.
2. Default Ruling of Istinja
Source text
وَالِاسْتِنْجَاءُ سُنَّةٌ مِنْ نَجَسٍ يَخْرُجُ مِنَ السَّبِيلَيْنِ مَا لَمْ يَتَجَاوَزِ الْمَخْرَجَ
• Istinja means cleansing impurity from the private outlets.
• When the impurity remains within the normal outlet area and does not spread beyond it, Istinja is an emphasized Sunnah according to the commentary.
• If the impurity spreads beyond the outlet, the next ruling applies according to its amount.
3. If Impurity Spreads beyond the Outlet
Source text
وَإِنْ تَجَاوَزَ وَكَانَ قَدْرَ الدِّرْهَمِ وَجَبَ إِزَالَتُهُ بِالْمَاءِ، وَإِنْ زَادَ عَلَى الدِّرْهَمِ افْتُرِضَ غَسْلُهُ
• The measurement concerns the portion that has spread beyond the outlet.
• If that spread is the size of a dirham, washing it is obligatory (Wajib).
• If it exceeds the dirham amount, washing it is obligatory at the level of Fard.
• In these cases, merely wiping the spread impurity does not replace the required washing.
4. Water, Stones, and the Goal of Cleansing
Source text
وَيُسَنُّ أَنْ يَسْتَنْجِيَ بِحَجَرٍ مُنْقٍ وَنَحْوِهِ، وَالْغَسْلُ بِالْمَاءِ أَحَبُّ، وَالْأَفْضَلُ الْجَمْعُ بَيْنَ الْمَاءِ وَالْحَجَرِ ... وَالسُّنَّةُ إِنْقَاءُ الْمَحَلِّ
• A clean material that removes the impurity without harm may be used for wiping; the text uses a cleansing stone as its example.
• Washing with water is better, and the best method described is to wipe first and then wash with water.
• Where wiping alone is legally sufficient, the essential goal is that the place becomes clean.
• Completing three stones is recommended (Mandub) when cleansing has already been achieved with fewer; the text explicitly says the number itself is not an emphasized Sunnah.
5. Wiping Direction for a Man
Source text
أَنْ يَمْسَحَ بِالْحَجَرِ الْأَوَّلِ مِنْ جِهَةِ الْمُقَدَّمِ إِلَى خَلْفٍ، وَبِالثَّانِي مِنْ خَلْفٍ إِلَى قُدَّامٍ، وَبِالثَّالِثِ مِنْ قُدَّامٍ إِلَى خَلْفٍ إِذَا كَانَتِ الْخُصْيَةُ مُدَلَّاةً
• Where the stated physical condition applies, the sequence given is: front-to-back, back-to-front, then front-to-back.
• If that condition does not apply, the text says to begin from back to front.
• The purpose is effective cleaning while avoiding spreading impurity.
6. Wiping Direction for a Woman
Source text
وَالْمَرْأَةُ تَبْتَدِئُ مِنْ قُدَّامٍ إِلَى خَلْفٍ خَشْيَةَ تَلْوِيثِ فَرْجِهَا
• The text instructs a woman to begin from front to back so that impurity is not carried toward the genital area.
7. Cleaning with Water
Source text
ثُمَّ يَغْسِلُ يَدَهُ أَوَّلًا بِالْمَاءِ، ثُمَّ يَدْلُكُ الْمَحَلَّ بِالْمَاءِ بِبَاطِنِ إِصْبَعٍ أَوْ إِصْبَعَيْنِ أَوْ ثَلَاثٍ إِنِ احْتَاجَ
• Wash the hand first, then clean the area gently with water using the inner surface of the fingers as needed.
• The text allows one, two or three fingers according to need, while its detailed method then advises not relying on only one finger throughout.
• The aim is sufficient cleaning; unnecessary excess should be avoided.
8. Finger Arrangement Mentioned in the Text
Source text
وَيُصَعِّدُ الرَّجُلُ إِصْبَعَهُ الْوُسْطَى ... ثُمَّ يُصَعِّدُ بِنَصْرِهِ ... وَالْمَرْأَةُ تُصَعِّدُ بِنَصْرِهَا وَأَوْسَطِ أَصَابِعِهَا مَعًا ابْتِدَاءً
• For a man, the text begins with the middle finger and then mentions the ring finger (Binsir).
• For a woman, it mentions beginning with the ring finger and middle finger together.
• The text gives this as part of its detailed cleansing method.
9. Fasting and Extra Caution
Source text
وَيُبَالِغُ فِي التَّنْظِيفِ ... وَفِي إِرْخَاءِ الْمَقْعَدَةِ إِنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ صَائِمًا ... وَنَشَّفَ مَقْعَدَتَهُ قَبْلَ الْقِيَامِ إِذَا كَانَ صَائِمًا
• A non-fasting person may relax the area more fully to complete cleansing.
• A fasting person avoids excessive relaxation or introducing wetness inward, in order to protect the fast.
• The text instructs the fasting person to dry the area before standing. The commentary also regards drying as recommended for a non-fasting person to protect clothing from used water.
Practice questions
Question 1
What is the default legal ruling of performing Istinja from exit pathway impurities that have NOT spread?
- Fard (Obligatory)
- Wajib (Necessary)
- Sunnah Mu'akkadah
- Makruh (Disliked)
Question 2
Wiping with dry stones or toilet paper is sufficient and valid even if the exiting impurity has spread beyond the exit point exceeding the size of a dirham.
Question 3
What is the mandatory requirement if the exiting filth spreads beyond the exit point and exceeds the size of a dirham?
- Wiping with exactly five stones.
- Washing the area with water is Fard (obligatory).
- Performing Tayammum with clean earth.
- No action is required; the prayer is valid.
Question 4
According to the method stated in the text, in which direction should a woman begin wiping during Istinja?
- From back to front.
- From front to back (min al-muqaddam ila khalf) to avoid contaminating the vaginal area with rectal filth.
- In circular motions around the area.
- No direction is specified in Fiqh.
Question 5
For a man, the text gives the sequence front-to-back, back-to-front, then front-to-back when the stated physical condition applies.
Question 6
Which finger arrangement does the text mention for a woman during cleansing with water?
- She uses only the index finger.
- She begins with the ring finger and middle finger together.
- She must use a sponge instead of fingers.
- She uses her thumb.
Question 7
A fasting person should use the same degree of inward cleansing as a non-fasting person and need not take extra care to keep water from being drawn inward.
Question 8
Match each case with the cleansing method described in the lesson.
Question 9
After urination, when should a man begin Wudu according to the text's rule of Istibra?
- When he is reasonably confident, according to his normal habit, that urine has stopped.
- Immediately, even while further drops are still expected.
- Only after a fixed 10-minute wait in every case.
- Only after performing Tayammum first.
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