How to Perform Istinja’ When It Causes Pleasure?

Answered by Ustadha Shazia Ahmad

Question

I have a problem related to cleaning myself after using the bathroom. I’m a woman, this issue was never there but started a couple of months ago. When I clean my private parts with water, using my hand, I start to get the feeling of pleasure due to which I’m not able to fully clean myself. The more I clean, the more I feel this pleasure, if I keep cleaning like this for five to ten minutes, I’ll be fully pleasured due to which I stop. But there are times when I need to hurry and I still get the sensation but I don’t take ghusl.

Answer

Thank you for your question. I am sorry to hear that it has become difficult to do this simple task. You must conquer this situation by making it simple.

Isitinja’

It is obligatory to wash oneself after relieving oneself, and this should not be causing any pleasure at all. One should be able to execute this task in less than a minute, without wasting water. Are you using a spray that has too much force? Are you using warm water? Washing for five to ten minutes is overdoing it and I recommend that you take the following steps:

-Use very cold water until this problem goes away
-Don’t use your hand. Just pour the water and dry it up well.
-If you are using your hand, don’t go near the clitoris, which is not affected by filth at all, and doesn’t need to be washed
-Take 30 seconds to wash for urine and less than a minute for the anal area

A Ritual Bath (ghusl)

There is no need for you to take a ritual bath unless you are sure that you reached an orgasm and sexual fluid (maniyy) exited. This would be very unlikely since you know that you stop before that happens. If you find that arousal fluid (madhy) has exited, just wash it off with the steps mentioned above, and make an ablution. That is all you need to do. I doubt that you will ever have to take a ritual bath if you are careful, and eventually even arousal fluid will not be a problem anymore. Ask Allah to make things simple and easy for you and consider getting married soon, if you are able, as our bodies have needs that only marriage can fulfill.

Please see these links as well:
What is the Best Way to Clean Oneself After Using the Toilet?
How to Deal With Waswas Regarding Purity According to the Shafi’i School?

May Allah give you the best of this world and the next.

[Ustadha] Shazia Ahmad
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Ustadha Shazia Ahmad lived in Damascus, Syria for two years where she studied aqidah, fiqh, tajweed, tafsir, and Arabic. She then attended the University of Texas at Austin, where she completed her Masters in Arabic. Afterward, she moved to Amman, Jordan where she studied fiqh, Arabic, and other sciences. She later moved back to Mississauga, Canada, where she lives with her family.