Liaison office of Grand Ayatullah Sayyid Ali Al Sistani (L.M.H.L) in London, Europe, North and South America.
57. It is obligatory to conceal one's private parts in the toilet and
at all times from adult persons even if they are one's near relatives (like
mother, sister etc.) Similarly, it is obligatory to conceal one's private parts
from insane persons, and from children who can discern between good and evil.
However, husband and wife are exempted from this obligation.
58. It is not necessary for a person to conceal the private parts with
any definite thing, it is sufficient, if, for example, he conceals them with
his hand.
59. While using the toilet for relieving oneself, the front or the
back part of one's body should not face the holy Ka'bah.
60. If a person sits in the toilet with the front part of his body or
the back facing the Qibla, but turns the private parts away from that direction,
it will not be enough. Similarly, when the front part of the body or the back
does not face Qibla, as a precaution, he should not allow the private parts to
face that direction.
61. Recommended precaution is that one should not face the Qibla or
have one's back towards it at the time of Istibra (to be explained later), nor
at the time of washing oneself to become Pak after relief.
62. When one is forced to sit facing the Qibla, or with his back
towards it, so as to avoid somebody looking at him, or if it is not possible to
do so, or when there is an unavoidable excuse for sitting that way, it is
permissible to do so.
63. It is a recommended precaution that even a child should not be
made to sit in the toilet with its face or back facing Qibla. But if the child
positions itself that way, it is not obligatory to divert it.
64. It is haraam to relieve oneself at the following four places:
In blind alleys, without the permission of the people who live there.
On the property (land) of a person who has not granted permission for the
purpose.
At a place which is waqf exclusively for its beneficiaries, like some
Madrassahs.
On the graves of Momineen, and at the sacred places whose sanctity will
thus be violated.
65. In the following three cases, anus can be made Pak with water
alone:
If another najasat, like blood, appears along with the faeces.
If an external najasat reaches the anus.
If more than usual najasat spreads around the anus.
In the cases other than those mentioned above, anus can be made Pak either
by water or by using cloth, or stone etc., although it is always better to wash
it with water. (for details: see Notes 68 - 70).
66. The urinary organ cannot be made Pak without water. If one uses
kurr or running water, then washing the organ once will suffice, after removal
of essential najasat. But, if one uses under-kurr water, then recommended
precaution is to wash it twice , better still, three times.
67. If the anus is washed with water, one should ensure that no trace
of faeces is left on it. However, there is no harm if colour and smell remain.
And if it is washed thoroughly in the first instance, leaving no particle of
stool, then it is not necessary to wash it again.
68. The anus can be made Pak with stone, clod or cloth provided they
are dry and Pak. If there is slight moisture on it, which does not reach the
outlet, there is no objection.
69. If one makes oneself totally Pak with stone, clod or cloth once,
it will be enough, though it is better to do it three times. In fact, it is
better to use three pieces. And if one does not get totally Pak after three
times, he may continue till he is Pak. However, there in no harm, if invisible,
tiny particles are still there.
70. It is haraam to make the anus Pak with things which are sacred and
revered, like, a paper on which the names of Allah and the Prophets are
written. And using bones or dung for the purpose, may not make the place Pak.
71. If a person doubts whether he has made the outlet Pak, it is
necessary that he should make it Pak even if he may have been doing it always
as a matter of habit.
72. When a person doubts after Namaz, whether he made the outlet Pak
before he started the prayers, the namaz already prayed will be valid, but for
the ensuing prayers, he will make himself Pak.
Istibra
73. Istibra is a recommended act for men after urinating. Its object
is to ensure that no more urine is left in the urethra. There are certain ways
of performing Istibra, and the best of them is that after the passing of urine,
if the anus also becomes najis it is made Pak first.
Thereafter, the part
between the anus and the root of penis should be pressed thrice, with the mid
dle finger of the left hand. Then the thumb is placed on the penis, and the
forefinger below it pressing three times up to the point of circumcision, then
the front part of the penis should be jerked three times.
74. The moisture which is discharged by man during wooing and
courtship, is called 'Mazi'. It is Pak, and so is the liquid which is seen after
ejaculation. It is called 'Wazi'. Similarly, the liquid which at times comes out
after urine, is called 'Wadi' and it is Pak if urine has not reached it. If a
person performs Istibra after urinating, and then discharges liquid doubting
whether it is urine, or one of the above mentioned three liquids, that liquid is
Pak.
75. If a person doubts whether he has performed Istibra or not, and
then discharges a liquid about which he is not sure whether it is Pak or not,
that liquid is will be deemed najis, and if he has performed Wudhu it becomes
void. However, if he doubts whe ther he performed the Istibra correctly or not,
and a liquid is discharged about which he is not sure whether it is Pak or not,
that liquid will be Pak, and it will not invalidate the Wudhu.
76. If a person performs Istibra, and also performs Wudhu, and if
after Wudhu he sees a liquid discharged, of which he knows that it is either
urine or semen, it will be obligatory upon him to do Ghusl, together with Wudhu.
But if he had not done Wudhu after Istibra, then Wudhu alone will be
sufficient.
77. When enough time has lapsed since urinating, and one becomes sure
that no urine is left in urinary passage, and then he sees some liquid, doubting
whether it is Pak or not, he will consider it as Pak, even if he had not done
Istibra. If he has Wudhu, it will be valid.
78. Istibra is not meant for women, and if she sees any liquid and she
doubts whether it is urine, that liquid is Pak, and it will not invalidate Wudhu
and Ghusl.
Mustahab and Makrooh acts
79. It is Mustahab that a person sitting for relieving himself, sits
at a place where no one would see him, and enters the toilet with his left foot
forward, and comes out with his right foot. It is also Mustahab to cover one's
head, and to place one's w eight on the left foot.
80. It is Makrooh to face the sun, or the moon, while relieving
oneself. But if a person manages to cover his private parts, it will not be
Makrooh. Moreover, it is Makrooh to sit for urinating etc. facing the wind; or
on the road side, or in lanes, or in front of a doors of a house or under the
shade of the fruit-yielding tree. It is also Makrooh to eat while relieving
oneself, or take longer then usual time, or to wash oneself with the right hand.
Talking is also Makrooh unless necessary. To utter words remembering Allah is
not Makrooh.
81. It is Makrooh to urinate while standing, or on hard earth, or in
the burrows of the animals, or in stationery water.
82. It is Makrooh to suppress or constrain one's urge for urine or
excretion, and if it is injurious to one's health, it becomes haraam.
83. It is Mustahab to urinate before namaz, before retiring to sleep,
before sexual intercourse, and after ejaculation.