Purity: Is Istibrā’ Obligatory If It Causes Harm or Prolongs Healing?

Practical Laws of Islam as per the teachings of Imam Khamenei

Purity: Is Istibrā’ Obligatory If It Causes Harm or Prolongs Healing?

English:

Question #90

Customarily, it is obligatory for men who want to perform prayer to do istibrā’ after urination. I have a wound on my penis that bleeds while doing istibrā’ due to pressure upon the penis, and thus blood is mixed with the water used for purification causes my body and clothes to become najis. If I do not do istibrā’, the wound will possibly heal earlier. Doing istibrā’, which puts pressure on the penis, would certainly cause the wound to persist and heel only after the next three months. Please explain whether I should do istibrā’ or not.

Answer #90

Doing istibrā’ is not obligatory. Furthermore, it is not allowed if it causes a considerable harm. However, after urination if one does not do istibrā’ and a doubtful liquid comes out, it will be ruled as urine.

- Imam Khamenei, Practical Laws of Islam, Rules of the Lavatory