Istinjâ, istibrâ and istinqâ

Question: What is istinjâ?
ANSWER
Cleaning one’s front or back after discharge of najâsat is termed istinjâ. Istinjâ is sunnat-i muakkad [emphatic sunnat]. Cleaning, that is tahârat, is not necessary when gas or a stone has issued.

Making an istinjâ with newspapers
Question: Is it permissible to make an istinjâ with a newspaper?
ANSWER
It is not permissible to make an istinjâ with any paper containing writings or suitable to be written on. Toilet paper can be used for wiping dry.

Tahârat with paper
Question: Is it permissible to make tahârat with a piece of paper if there is no water?
ANSWER
It is makrûh [improper, disliked or abstained by the Prophet “alaihissalâm”] to make tahârat with paper or cloth, even if there is water. It is mustahab [an act for which there is thawâb (blessing) and if omitted there is no sin] to wipe yourself dry after tahârat. It can be made with toilet paper or a piece of cloth. If these are not available, you can do the wiping with your hand.

Istibrâ
Question: What is istibrâ?
ANSWER
It means not leaving any drops in the urethra. It is wâjib [essential, almost obligatory, almost as compulsory as fard, so not to be omitted] for men to make an istibrâ, that is, not to leave any drops in the urethra, by walking, coughing, or by lying on their left side. They must not make an ablution unless they are satisfied that there are no drops of urine left. One drop oozing out will both nullify the ablution and make their underwears dirty. If less than a palmful oozes onto the pants, it is makrûh for them to make an ablution and perform namâz. If more oozes, the namâz will not be valid.

Istinqâ
Question: What is istinqâ?
ANSWER
It means feeling sure that there is not any najasat on the body or any urine in the urethra left.

Tahârat
Question: Is the tahârat of women different from that of men?
ANSWER
After defecating, women remove the filth from front to back with their fingers. If they clean it from back to front, the excrement is moved to the vagina, so it may cause infection. Also, they should not finger the genital area because it may result in not only infection but also lust.