Fatwa ID: 08751

 

 

Answered by: Mufti Sibghat Ullah

 

Question:

 

When women urinate, which part of her vagina must be washed? Can we just wash from the upper side that is visible or must we wash the labia minora and the urethra inside it?

 

Another question is, can water go inside the urethra while cleansing the labia minora and become impure? The last question is does a woman have to clean labia majora and minora while doing ghusl?

 

 

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

 

Answer: 

 

After urinating, it is obligatory (wajib) to wash the area where the urine has flowed. This includes:

 

• The outer vaginal area (labia majora)
• If urine reaches the labia minora or flows further, it must also be washed.

 

The area inside the vaginal opening or urethra does not need to be washed, as it is not considered part of the external body and is not subject to the ruling of cleansing.

 

Water that enters the urethra during cleaning does not become impure, nor does it need to be expelled or removed. The inside of the urethra is not considered part of the external body and is naturally impure.  The focus is on cleaning the external area where impurity is visible.

   

During ghusl, it is obligatory to ensure that water reaches all external parts of the body, including the Labia majora, Labia minora as they are considered part of the external body. However, water does not need to be inserted into the vaginal opening or urethra.

      

 

 

References:

 

Radd ul Mukhtar, Book 1, Book of purification

 ويجب إزالة النجاسة عن ظاهر الفرج، وأما الداخل فلا يجب غسله؛ لأنه ليس موضعاً ظاهراً

It is obligatory to remove impurity from the external part of the private area, but the internal part does not need to be washed, as it is not apparent.

 

 

Bidaya Sinaya, Book 1, Book of purification

لا ينجس الماء إذا دخل في المواضع الباطنة؛ لأن الداخل ليس محلاً للتطهير

Water does not become impure if it enters internal areas, as internal parts are not subject to purification.

 

 الهداية، كتاب الطهارة، جزء ١، ص ٢١

الواجب أن يعم الماء جميع ظاهر البدن، وهو ما يظهر عند التفلّي

It is obligatory for water to reach all external parts of the body, meaning what is visible when a person is squatting.

 

 

 

 

Only Allah knows best.

Written by Mufti Sibghat Ullah

Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham