1/15. Chapter:
Sunan Ibn Majah 312 — Clean Yourself with the Left Hand
It is undesirable (Makruh) to touch the penis and to clean oneself from the call of nature with the right hand
Clean Yourself with the Left Hand
Sunan Ibn Majah : 312
Sunan Ibn MajahHadith Number 312
حَدَّثَنَا يَعْقُوبُ بْنُ حُمَيْدِ بْنِ كَاسِبٍ، حَدَّثَنَا الْمُغِيرَةُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، وَعَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ رَجَاءٍ الْمَكِّيُّ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَجْلاَنَ، عَنِ الْقَعْقَاعِ بْنِ حَكِيمٍ، عَنْ أَبِي صَالِحٍ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ " إِذَا اسْتَطَابَ أَحَدُكُمْ فَلاَ يَسْتَطِبْ بِيَمِينِهِ لِيَسْتَنْجِ بِشِمَالِهِ " .
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah said: 'When anyone of you cleans himself, he should not clean himself with his right hand. Let him clean himself with his left hand.'
Reference : Sunan Ibn Majah 312In-book reference : Book 1, Hadith 46English translation : Vol. 1, Book 1, Hadith 312
Summary of Sunan Ibn Majah Hadith 312
This Hadith gives a direct instruction about istinja, or cleaning oneself after relieving oneself. The Messenger of Allah said that when anyone cleans himself, he should not clean himself with his right hand. He should clean himself with his left hand. The wording is simple, practical, and easy to apply. It does not include extra details about other matters. For the search term clean yourself with left hand hadith, this narration is a direct match. The main teaching is that personal cleanliness should follow the manners taught by the Prophet, even in actions that are private and routine.
What we learn from this hadith
- Use the left hand for cleaning after relieving oneself.
- Do not use the right hand for this act.
- Islamic manners include private cleanliness.
- The Hadith gives a clear and practical instruction.
