Is Intention (Niyyah) Required for Istinja? Fiqh Ruling & Explanation

Istinjā’, or cleansing the private parts and anus after urination or defecation, is an important part of ṭahārah (ritual purity) in Islam. It is an initial step before a Muslim can perform acts of worship that require purity from ḥadath, such as ṣalāt. However, a question arises in the minds of some people: does Istinjā’ require intention like wudhu or mandi wajib?

Understanding the law regarding the intention in Istinjā’ is important so that our worship is valid and accepted by Allah SWT. This article will thoroughly examine this issue based on the views of Islamic scholars, including a review from one of the main reference books of the Shafi’i school of thought.

Understanding the Importance of Intention in Worship

In Islamic teachings, intention plays a central role in every deed, especially those related to worship. It is intention that distinguishes between ordinary habits and deeds that have merit in the sight of Allah. The basis for this is the famous saying of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ:

إِنَّمَا الْأَعْمَالُ بِالنِّيَّاتِ وَإِنَّمَا لِكُلِّ امْرِئٍ مَا نَوَى

“Indeed, actions are judged by intentions, and each person will be rewarded according to what they intended.”
(Narrated by Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī and Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim.)

This hadith serves as a general foundation for many rulings in Islamic jurisprudence, including the chapter on ritual purity (ṭahārah). However, how is this principle of intention applied specifically to istinjāʾ?

Two Types of Purification: Impurity and Ritual Impurity

The scholars of Islamic jurisprudence divide purification into two main categories:

1. Purification from Impurity ( إزالة النجاسة ): Removing or cleansing physical filth considered impure according to Islamic law, such as urine, feces, blood, or carrion.
2. Purification from Ḥadath ( رفع الحدث ): Removing a legal state that prevents one from performing certain acts of worship, namely minor Ḥadath (requiring wudhu or tayamum) and major Ḥadath (requiring ghusl or tayamum).

The difference between these two types of purification affects the law of niat (intention).

Is Intention Necessary When Removing Impurity?

Generally, removing najis from the body, clothing, or place does not require intention. Why? Because the main goal is simply to eliminate physical impurity. If najis is removed on its own or due to another cause without human intention (for example, clothing affected by najis becomes clean due to rainwater), then the najis is considered to have disappeared and the object is pure. This differs from worship, which aims to draw closer to Allah and requires intentionality.

Is Intention Required to Remove Hadath?

Conversely, removing ritual impurity, whether minor or major, requires intention according to the majority of Ulama. Wudhu, mandi wajib, and tayamum are ritual acts of worship performed to remove the state of ritual impurity, thus requiring an intention that distinguishes them from merely physically cleansing oneself.

The Position of Istinjā’ in the Discussion of Intention

Istinjā’ is performed after urinating or defecating. Its purpose is to cleanse the remaining impurities (urine and feces) that exit the body. These impurities are categorized as ḥarām.

Read the explanation of Istinjāʾ to better understand its meaning and purpose, which is to remove filth or impurity (najis).

Based on the division above, Istinjā’ leans more towards the category of removing impurity. This is a physical cleansing from dirt that comes out of the body. Therefore, the strong opinion among scholars is that Istinjā’ itself does not require a specific intention to be valid. Simply performing the act of cleaning the qubul and dubur until free of residual impurity, then the Istinjā’ is valid. It is similar to animal filth in the middle of the road that is washed away by rainwater until clean, which is sufficient to make the place that was originally mutanajjis (contaminated by impurity) become pure.

Therefore, the formula for the intention of Istinjā’ or the wording of the intention of Istinjā’, as well as the intention of Istinjā’ from urination or the intention of Istinjā’ for relieving oneself of urine and feces, are not absolute requirements in the view of the majority of scholars. This is because the primary focus is achieving cleanliness from impurity.

The Law of Intention for Istinjā’ According to the Shafi’i School and Other Ulama

Although ijmā’ (Consensus) of scholars states that istinjā’ (Cleansing) does not require a specific intention, it is important to look at references from books of fiqh. One of them is the book Al-Hawi Al Kabir by Imam Mawardi, a great scholar of the Shafi’i school. Here is a relevant excerpt from the book:

The wording of the example from Al-Hawi Al Kabir volume 1 page 87:

قال الشافعي رضي الله عنه : ولا يجزئ طهارة من غسل ولا وضوء إلا بنية واحتج على من أجاز الوضوء بغير نية بقوله : إنما الأعمال بالنيات , ولا يجوز التيمم إلا بنية وهما طهارتان فكيف يفترقان

قال الماوردي : وهذا كما قال : الطهارة ضربان من نجس وحدث

فأما طهارة النجس فلا تفتقر إلى نية إجماعا لأمرين

أحدهما : أن إزالة النجاسة إنما هو تعبد مفارقة وترك ، والتروك لا تفتقر إلى نية كسائر ما أمر باجتنابه في عباداته

والثاني : أنه لما طهر ما أصابته النجاسة من الأرض والثوب بمرور السيل عليه وإصابة الماء له علم أن القصد فيه غير معتبر , وأن النية في إزالته غير واجبة

فأما طهارة الحدث فلا تصح إلا بنية سواء كانت بمائع كالوضوء والغسل , أو بجامد كالتراب وبه قال مالك , وأحمد , وإسحاق , وجمهور أهل الحجاز . وقال الأوزاعي والحسن بن صالح الكوفي تصح بغير نية سواء كانت بمائع أو جامد¹

Translation and Explanation:

(As explained in the previous section, the core point is) Imam al-Shafi’i obligates intention for wuḍū’, ghusl, and tayammum (all that remove ritual impurity) based on the ḥadīth of intention.

Imam Mawardi strengthened this view and explained that purification is divided into two: from impurity and from ḥadath. Removing impurity does not require intention based on Ijmā’ because its nature is to avoid and cleanse physical filth that can even disappear without human intention.

While purifying oneself from ḥadath, intention is obligatory, and this is the opinion of the majority of scholars such as Imam Malik, Ahmad, Ishaq, and the majority of scholars of the Hijaz, although there is a minority opinion that permits it without intention.

From the excerpt above, it is clear that Imam Mawardi (from the Shafi’i school of thought) stated there is Ijmā’ (consensus) that removing impurity does not require intention. Istinjā’, as the process of cleaning residual impurity after relieving oneself, falls into this category of removing impurity.

The Prayer After Istinjā’ or the Recitation During Istinjā’

Seeing the high number of searches for the keywords “intention of cleansing and short Istinjā’ prayer” on search engines, we feel the need to write an explanation about this matter. It should be known that, in fact, regarding the specific reading of the Istinjā’ prayer taught by the Prophet ﷺ or the scholars to be read during cleansing itself, there is none.

However, some Muslims may recite general prayers before or after entering the bathroom or toilet, then categorize them as prayers for Istinjā’ of relieving oneself, both major and minor, causing many to search for the keyword “Istinjā’ prayer and its meaning” on search engines.

These supplications are usually the duas recited when entering and leaving the bathroom, or prayers seeking protection from Satan. Reciting them is recommended as a matter of etiquette, but they are not an obligatory part of the istinjāʾ process itself.

Conclusion

Returning to the main question, is intention necessary for Istinjā’? Based on a review of the evidence and the opinions of scholars, including perspectives in the book Al-Hawi Al Kabir, Istinjā’ as a process of cleansing the impurity of bodily waste does not require a specific intention to be valid. The main focus in Istinjā’ is achieving cleanliness from impurity.

However, performing istinjā’ with the awareness that it is a part of maintaining cleanliness as commanded by religion is certainly better and carries a reward. Nevertheless, the absence of a specific intention for istinjā’ does not invalidate its validity.

The prayer after Istinjā’ (cleansing) that is commonly recited is the prayer upon exiting the toilet, not a specific prayer for Istinjā’ itself. The process of intending Istinjā’ is not a condition for the validity of purification from impurity.

And Allah knows best regarding correctness.