Istinja' with a Clod of Earth

Question

It is written in a book that istinja', whether minor or major, should be performed by every man and woman first with earth or some other thing, and after that with some water. So please inform us of the ruling of the Shari'a with an explanation: should women too first use earth and the like? The author of the book writes that without earth, one does not become clean with water alone.

Answer

Everyone — men and women alike — should perform istinja' with a clod of earth and after that perform istinja' with water; this is the sunna way. But it is wrong to say that if istinja' is not performed with a clod and the like, purity will not be attained with water alone.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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