2/17. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 262b — Prophetic Guidance for Istinja
Cleaning oneself after relieving oneself
Hadith About Istinja: Simple Toilet Etiquette in Islam
Sahih Muslim : 262b
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 262b
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْمُثَنَّى، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ، حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ، وَمَنْصُورٍ، عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ يَزِيدَ، عَنْ سَلْمَانَ، قَالَ قَالَ لَنَا الْمُشْرِكُونَ إِنِّي أَرَى صَاحِبَكُمْ يُعَلِّمُكُمْ حَتَّى يُعَلِّمَكُمُ الْخِرَاءَةَ . فَقَالَ أَجَلْ إِنَّهُ نَهَانَا أَنْ يَسْتَنْجِيَ أَحَدُنَا بِيَمِينِهِ أَوْ يَسْتَقْبِلَ الْقِبْلَةَ وَنَهَى عَنِ الرَّوْثِ وَالْعِظَامِ وَقَالَ " لاَ يَسْتَنْجِي أَحَدُكُمْ بِدُونِ ثَلاَثَةِ أَحْجَارٍ " .
Salman Narrated from:
(One among) the polytheists remarked: I see that your friend even teaches you about the excrement. He replied; Yes, he has in fact forbidden us that anyone amongst us should cleanse himself with his right hand, or face the Qibla. He has forbidden the use of dung or bone for it, and he has also instructed us not to use less than three pebbles (for this purpose).
Reference : Sahih Muslim 262bIn-book reference : Book 2, Hadith 74USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 2, Hadith 505
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 262b
This hadith about istinja repeats the same key teaching in a slightly different setting. A polytheist remarked that the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) even taught about excrement. Salman replied yes, then mentioned the guidance: do not cleanse with the right hand, do not face the Qibla, do not use dung or bone, and do not use less than three pebbles. The tone of the report is calm and confident. It shows that Islam gives clear manners for personal cleanliness, even when others may mock it. The hadith does not turn the topic into shame. Instead, it treats cleanliness after relieving oneself as part of guided daily living.
What we learn from this hadith
- Islamic guidance includes private habits as well as public worship.
- Mockery did not stop Salman from explaining the teaching plainly.
- Dung and bone are not to be used for cleansing.
- The report mentions three pebbles as the minimum in that method.
