Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Salam,

Please can you advise whether it is sufficient to do istinja with toilet paper after having attended the toilet (for both scenarios). I work in a company where I do not have access to water, and this is interfering with my performing salaah. Also do I need to have a change of undergarments before performing salaah, or does having performed istinja with toilet paper sufficient in cleansing yourself.

Secondly, please advise if you can use a toothbrush/toothpaste in the month of ramzan when one is fasting?

And finally, when performing kaza salaah, from what age do you perform kaza from if you cannot recall when you were regarded as an adult. And do you only pray the fardh namaz, or do you have to play sunnah and nafil as well.

Jazakallah for your guidance.

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

Answer:

Toilet paper

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Your Question: Please can you advise whether it is sufficient to do istinja with toilet paper after having attended the toilet (for both scenarios). I work in a company where I do not have access to water, and this is interfering with my performing salaah.

Aishah reported that the Messenger of Allah (saws) said, "When one of you goes to relieve himself, (in the absence of water) he should clean himself with three stones." Related by Ahmad, anNasa'i, Abu Dawud and ad-Daraqutni).

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 1.157 Narrated by Abu Huraira

I followed the Prophet (saws) while he was going out to answer the call of nature. He used not to look this way or that. So, when I approached near him he said to me, "Fetch for me some stones for cleaning the privates parts, and do not bring a bone or a piece of dung." So I brought the stones in the corner of my garment and placed them by his (saws) side and I then went away from him (saws). When he (saws) finished (from answering the call of nature) he (saws) used them (to clean himself) .

Sahih Muslim Hadith 2982 Narrated by Jabir ibn Abdullah

Allah's Messenger (saws) said: ‘Odd number of stones are to be used for cleaning (the private parts after answering the call of nature). Whenever any one of you is required to use stones (for cleaning the private parts), he should use odd number of stones (three, five or seven).

When one wishes to answer the call of nature and water is absolutely unavailable, then it would be best to follow the guidance and use an odd number of stones to clean oneself.

The absorbent ‘tissue’ paper which is available today was obviously not available at the time of the Prophet (saws); thus it is upto the jurists and scholars in Islam to derive an opinion regarding their usage as a cleansing agent in light of the guidance of the Quran and the Sunnah.

The majority of the scholars are of the opinion that the absorbent ‘tissue’ paper available today can be used to clean oneself after one has answered the call of nature; but since its usage is not specifically mentioned as a cleansing agent in the Quran or Sunnah, at the first availability of water, one should wash one’s private parts and only then make themselves available for prayer. And Allah Alone Knows Best.

Your Question: Also do I need to have a change of undergarments before performing salaah, or does having performed istinja with toilet paper sufficient in cleansing yourself.

After one has cleaned oneself thoroughly with ‘tissue’ paper after answering the call of nature, at the first availability of water one only needs to wash one’s private parts thoroughly with water, perform the wudu and make themselves available for prayer.

If one sees or knows with absolute conviction that some impurity might have touched his garments, one need not change their garment or under-garment, but one should wash that part of the garment with water.

A full bath or ‘ghusl’ is not required in this situation as relieving oneself does not constitute a state of major ceremonial impurity.

Since the usage of ‘tissue-paper’ is not specifically mentioned as a cleansing agent in the Quran or Sunnah, at the first availability of water, one should wash one’s private parts and only then make themselves available for prayer.

A good practice when visiting toilets where one has prior knowledge that water will not be available, is to carry a small bottle or cup of water prior to entering the toilet; thus eliminating the need of using other cleaning agents like stones, or tissue paper, etc.

Your Question: Secondly, please advise if you can use a toothbrush/toothpaste in the month of ramzan when one is fasting?

Because the available forms of fluoride based toothpastes today were not present during the time of the Revelation of the Quran, the Quran and the Sunnah are obviously silent on the issue.

The scholars and jurists in Islam have differed in their opinion regarding the permissibility of using modern forms of toothpaste during fasting; some say that because it leaves a distinct flavor and taste and there is a fear that it might go beyond the throats and thus invalidate their fasts, it would be best to abstain from its usage while fasting; but some scholars hold it permissible with the condition that it should not be swallowed or go beyond the throats of a believer who is fasting. And Allah Alone Knows Best.

A better alternative to using toothpaste while fasting would be the usage of the ‘siwak’ stick to clean ones teeth and freshen one’s breath, as was the preferred Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (saws).

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 3.154 Narrated by Abu Huraira

Narrated Amir bin Rabi'a, "I saw the Prophet (saws) cleaning his teeth with Siwak while he was fasting so many times as I can't count." And narrated Abu Huraira, "The Prophet (saws) said, 'But for my fear that it would be hard for my followers, I would have ordered them to clean their teeth with Siwak on every performance of ablution.' " The Prophet (saws) did not differentiate between a fasting and a non-fasting person in this respect (using Siwak).

Aisha said, "The Prophet (saws) said, 'It (i.e. Siwak) is a purification for the mouth and it is a way of seeking Allah's pleasure.' Ata' and Qatada said, "There is no harm if a fasting person swallows the resultant saliva on using the ‘siwak’ as it does not invalidate their fast in any way."

Hadith Qudsi 10

The Messenger of Allah (saws) said that Allah Subhanah, Glorified and Exalted is He Says: “Fasting is Mine and it I who give reward for it. [A man] gives up his sexual passion, his food and his drink for My sake.” Fasting is like a shield, and he who fasts has two joys: a joy whin he breaks his fast and a joy when he meets his Lord. The change in the breath of the mouth of him who fasts is better in Allah's estimation than the smell of musk.

Your Question: And finally, when performing kaza salaah, from what age do you perform kaza from if you cannot recall when you were regarded as an adult. And do you only pray the fardh namaz, or do you have to play sunnah and nafil as well.

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 4 Surah Nisaa verse 103:

Indeed the Salaat is a prescribed duty that should be performed by the believers at (their) appointed times.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 2 Surah Baqarah verses 45-46:

45 Nay seek (Allah's) help with patient perseverance and ‘salaah’: it is indeed hard except to those who bring a lowly spirit.

46 Who bear in mind the certainty that they are to meet their Lord and that they are to return to Him.

The Prophet (saws) said, "The head of the matter is Islam, its pillar is the prayer, and the top of its hump is Jihad in the Way of Allah."

Jabir reports that the Prophet (saws) said, "Between a person and disbelief is discarding prayer."

Related by Ahmad, Muslim, Abu Dawud, at-Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah.

Dear and beloved brother, as it is with all the other duties and responsibilities in Islam, the prayer becomes an obligatory duty upon each individual when they reach the age of puberty.

If one has missed one’s obligatory prayers in one’s past, then the absolute first thing one must do is immediately turn back to his Lord Most Gracious in sincere Taubah for his/her lapse, and make a solemn and sincere intention that from this day forward, they will never ever miss even one obligatory prayer on time ever again. If the person is sincere in seeking repentance, it is expected that he will find his Lord Merciful and Forgiving.

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 39 Surah Zumur verses 53-54:

(O Prophet) say: “O My servants who have wronged their own souls….Do not despair of Allah’s Mercy! Surely, Allah forgives all sins. He indeed is the All Forgiving, All Merciful. Return to your Lord and submit to Him before the scourge overtakes you; for then you may get no help from anywhere.”

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 3 Surah Ale Imraan verse 135-136:

Allah likes such good people very much, who, if ever they commit a base deed or wrong their own soul by the commission of a sin, remember Allah instantly, and ask for forgiveness from Him for their shortcomings. For who, but Allah, can forgive sins? (And Allah loves those) who do not knowingly persist in the wrongs they did. These will be rewarded with forgiveness from Allah, and with Gardens beneath which canals flow, and they will reside therein forever! How excellent is the reward of those who do good deeds!

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 6 Surah Anaam verse 54:

When those come to you who believe in Our Signs, say: "Peace be on you! Your Lord had inscribed for Himself (the rule of) Mercy. Verily if any of you did evil in ignorance, and thereafter repented and amended (his conduct), Lo! He is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful."

Although the act of sincere taubah forgives every deed of one’s past, if one so fears Allah Subhanah and the Last Day regarding the accounting of the missed prayers in the Presence of their Majestic Lord….one may fulfill those missed prayers in any format one desires or is easy for them. A good format suggested by the scholars to fulfill all those years of missed prayers is to estimate the number of years that one might have missed the obligatory prayers….and for the coming that many number of years, pray one extra prayer with each of their five obligatory prayer. Not only will this format put a less burden on the person, their time, and their efforts….but it will fulfill their intention of making up all the missed obligatory prayers unto their Lord. And in addition to that, whenever one gets the opportunity, they should increase the offering of their supererogatory prayers (Sunnah and Nafl)….for if there is any deficiency in one’s obligatory prayers, these supererogatory prayers will help fill those deficiencies.

Abu Hurairah reports that the Prophet (saws) said: "The first thing that the people will be called to account for on the Day of Resurrection will be the prayers. Our Lord will say to the Angels although He knows better: 'Look into the ‘Salah’ of My servant to see if he observed it perfectly or been negligent in it.’ So if he observed it perfectly it will be recorded to his credit, but if he had been negligent in it in any way, Allah would say: ‘See if My servant has any supererogatory (nafl) prayers.’ Then if he has any supererogatory prayers, Allah would say: ‘Make up the deficiency in My servant's obligatory prayer with his supererogatory prayers.' Thereafter all his actions will be examined in like manner"

Related by Abu Dawud.

Your Question: or do you have to play sunnah and nafil as well.

Firstly, please allow us to clarify the difference between Fard, Sunnah and Nafl prayers.

Fard prayers: These are the five obligatory prayers at their appointed times of the day. If one prays them, he will earn a huge reward from Allah Subhanah; and if one does not pray them, there will be a severe accounting and punishment.

Nafl prayers: These are the voluntary prayers. If one prays them, he will earn a huge reward from Allah Subhanah; and if one does not pray them, there is no sin.

Sunnah prayers: These are the Nafl or voluntary prayers which were prayed by the Messenger of Allah (saws), and thus they become his (saw’s) Sunnah for us. If one prays them, he will earn a huge reward from Allah Subhanah; and if one does not pray them, there is no sin. The most that can be said of one who does not pray the Sunnah prayers is that he lost a great opportunity to earn huge rewards from Allah Subhanah.

If one has missed one’s obligatory prayers in one’s past, and one dies in a state whereby they have not sought sincere forgiveness from their Lord for missing their obligatory prayers, their accounting in the Presence of their Lord will be extremely severe indeed.

Since Sunnah and Nafl prayers are not obligatory in Islam, but rather they are voluntary or supererogatory, there is no sin if one, for any reason, does not or is not able to offer them.

Thus instead of fulfilling the missed ‘sunnah’ or ‘nafl’ prayers of one’s past, one should simply increase their number of ‘sunnah’ and/or ‘nafl’ prayers from this day forward…..

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan