How Do I Deal with Waswasa During Istinja?

Answered by Shaykh Yusuf Weltch 

Question

How do I deal with misgivings (waswasa) that occur when doing istinja?

Answer

In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate

Preface to the Answer

Before answering your question, you must realize that these doubts, these what-ifs, are from Shaytan, and Allah Most High has explicitly commanded us to oppose Shaytan. It may prove as a challenge to you at first, but you must ignore these types of doubts and misgivings as best as you can.

Only by successfully ignoring them will they go away along with your sufferings. It is not cautioned to take the strictest opinion, but rather caution is acting on the way of the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace). Anything beyond that ends up in self-inflicted hardship.

Undue Hardship

Allah Most High tells us, “Strive for ˹the cause of˺ Allah in the way He deserves, for it is He Who has chosen you, and laid upon you no hardship in the religion—the way of your forefather Abraham.” [Quran, 22:78]

Religious responsibility requires a level of effort and burden, but undue hardship is not part of one’s responsibility in Islam. Acting on doubts and misgivings is from this undue hardship; Allah has only tasked us to act on reasonable surety or certainty and to ignore all else.

Answer

To answer your question, the basis of all liquid is purity. Unless you are reasonably sure of the contrary – which necessitates some sort of proof – consider the wetness pure and, by extension, your hand and clothing. [Tahtawi/Shurunbulali, Hashiyat Maraqi al-Falah]

Summary

The answer provided here will suffice you for this question. However, the nature of these types of misgivings (waswasa) is that, if not treated, they may grow and spread to other aspects of your religion. I implore you to consider the following advice:

1) Seek a deeper understanding of the rulings that purification and prayer are based on. Consider the courses offered here at www.seekers.flywheelstaging.com/courses

2) Whenever such doubts occur, especially those regarding impurities, only act if you are reasonably sure or certain of the matter. Take solace in knowing that Allah Most High only tasks His slave with that which is in their ability, no more. Anything beyond reasonable surety is not in the scope of your ability, and therefore you will not be asked about it, even if hypothetically speaking, you were wrong.

Hope this helps
Allah knows best

[Shaykh] Yusuf Weltch
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Shaykh Yusuf Weltch is a teacher of Arabic, Islamic law, and spirituality. After accepting Islam in 2008, he then completed four years at the Darul Uloom seminary in New York where he studied Arabic and the traditional sciences. He then traveled to Tarim, Yemen, where he stayed for three years studying in Dar Al-Mustafa under some of the greatest scholars of our time, including Habib Umar Bin Hafiz, Habib Kadhim al-Saqqaf, and Shaykh Umar al-Khatib. In Tarim, Shaykh Yusuf completed the memorization of the Qur’an and studied beliefs, legal methodology, hadith methodology, Qur’anic exegesis, Islamic history, and a number of texts on spirituality. He joined the SeekersGuidance faculty in the summer of 2019.