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He was not sure whether his garment had become impure (najis) after urinating

26-09-2018

Question 103846

I am a student studying overseas, and I spend most of my day in the workplace. When I need to urinate, I do so standing because I feel that the toilet seat may be contaminated with impurity (najaasah), so I cannot bear to sit on it. I also try as much as possible to avoid getting any drops of urine on me. I also use toilet tissue to clean myself after urinating. What is the ruling on small drops of urine that may fall on my trousers after urinating whilst standing (despite taking precautions)? I hope you can explain whether the ruling is different if the person is certain that has happened as opposed to merely thinking that it may have happened. Is it sufficient to sprinkle water or wipe over what he thinks is the place where drops of urine fell? Does asking too many questions about this matter come under the heading of waswaas?

Answer

Praise be to Allah.

The Sunnah is to urinate whilst sitting, but if a man urinates whilst standing, there is no blame on him, so long as he can be sure that no impurity will get onto his clothes or body.

If a man urinates whilst standing, then becomes certain that some urine got onto his clothes, then he must wash the place that is contaminated by the impurity. It is not sufficient to sprinkle water or wipe over the site of the impurity; rather what he must do is wash off the impurity by pouring water over it.

If he is not sure whether any urine got onto his garment or not, then he does not have to wash the garment, because the basic principle is that the garment remains pure (taahir) until and unless he becomes certain that impurity has got onto it.

The scholars of the Standing Committee for Issuing Fatwas said: If you are certain that drops (of urine) are coming out [as in the case of incontinence], then you must wash your private parts and do wudoo’ for every prayer, and wash off whatever gets onto your clothes of that. But if there is any uncertainty about that, then you do not have to do anything, and you should ignore the doubts and uncertainty lest you be affected by waswasah (whispers from the Shaytaan). End quote.

Asking about matters that will help in terms of religious commitment is not wrong and does not come under the heading of waswasah; rather it is seeking perfection and eagerness to do good.

We ask Allah to help us and you to do all that is good, for He is able to do that.

For more information, please see the answer to question no. 39684 .

And Allah knows best.

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