Fatwa ID: 03764

Answered by: Alimah Nasima Umm Hamza

Question

Hi, I have read regarding female istinjaa, that women are required to wash the outer part only. However, the urethra is situated inside the labia minora. Does that mean the women should wash labia majora, then inside the labia minora where the urethra is leaving the vagina as well?

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيْم

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

Answer:

Istinjaa is a sunnah mu’akkadah as it was an act which our Prophet (PBUH) was persistent in performing. [^[1]]

Instinja is sunnah mu’akkadah when the impurity (urine/faeces) has not spread more than a dirham from the opening. If it has spread by more than a dirham then it becomes fard to wash it. [^[2]]

Since the urethra is located on the labia minora for a woman, she will wash the labia minora. If the impurity has spread to the labia majora i.e. onto the vaginal lips, she will be required to wash this.

Only Allah knows best

Written by Alimah Nasima Umm Hamza

Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham