What is the advice of the Prophet to those who have delusions regarding urine?

- After answering the call of nature, I often have delusions. I make wudu repeatedly thinking that urine leakage continues. This sometimes causes me to miss a prayer.
- Is there a hadith that will eradicate this delusion?
- How is istibra made?

Dear Brother / Sister,

Waiting for a while for the urine leakage to stop after urination is called istibra. (1) The Prophet (pbuh) said, “When one of you urinates, he should squeeze his pennis three times beginning from the bottom.” (2) He advised istibra like that. (3)

After urination, a person can walk a bit, cough slightly, move his feet or wiggle without attracting the attention of people in order to make sure that no urine is left in the urinary tract.

If urine comes again, he cleans that part again and makes wudu.

Making istibra generally changes from person to person. Some people make it by squeezing the penis slightly, some by coughing and some by waiting a bit without doing anything. If a person makes wudu immediately after urination without istibra, it may be risky because if the urine remaining in the urinary tract comes out after making wudu, the wudu of that person is invalidated (4), causing the prayer to be invalidated too. In addition, his underwear will get dirty and if this impurity is more than the size of the hand palm, it will invalidate prayer. Therefore, istibra is very important.  

The stopping of urine leakage can change from person to person. It may be quick in some people and a bit late in others.

Although it is enough to use one of the methods mentioned above that is suitable for a person, some people go to extremes and think that urine leakage has not stopped; after urination, they wait for a long time in the toilet or outside, walk for a long time for istibra and miss the congregational prayer because of it.  

If such people have an abnormal (pathological) disorder, they should have a urine test and be treated if a medical disorder is detected.

If it becomes a permanent delusion, it is necessary to get rid of that delusion by acting according to the following advice of the Prophet (pbuh):

“Jibril came to me and said, 'O Muhammad! When you make wudu, sprinkle some water on your private parts.'” (5)

The following is stated in the narration of Ibn Majah: “Jibril taught me how to make wudu and ordered me to sprinkle some water under my garment to eliminate the doubt of urine leakage after making wudu.” (6)

The reason for sprinkling water like this aims to eliminate delusions (7); thus, a person who feels wetness will attribute it to the water that has been sprinkled. (8)

Thus, those who do the necessary things after urination but who still have delusions that urine leakage continues will get rid of such delusions with the permission of Allah if they act according to the advice of the Prophet.

For, a person who has such delusions thinks that some wetness comes out of the urinary tract after making wudu. Therefore, he doubts if his wudu has been invalidated or not. If some water is sprinkled on the front part of the underpants after making wudu, such a delusion and thought will be eliminated.

The religion is easy. We can ease our life by benefitting from the ease provided by our religion and depress Satan.  

Footnotes:

1) Ibn Manzur, I, 33; for detailed information, see Bilmen, Ömer Nasuhi, Büyük İslâm İlmihali, İst. 1992, p. 70; İSAM (heyet), İlmihal, İst. nd. I, 193–194; Sofuoğlu, p.199.
2) Haythami, Ali b. Abi Bakr, Majmauz-Zawaid wa Manbaul-Fawawi, Beirut, 1982, I,207.
3) After urination, men should squeeze the penis slightly with the index finger of the left hand under the penis and the thumb on the penis beginning from the bottom, moving to the top a few times in order to remove the remaining urine in the urinary tract. Then, they should wipe or wash it.
4) Zihnî, Mehmed, Nimetü’l-İslâm, İst. 1398/1977, 57.
5) Tirmidhi, Taharah, 38.
6) Ibn Majah, Taharah, 58; Ahmad b. Hanbal, V, 203.
7) Ibnul-Athir, Majduddin, an-Nihaya fi Gharibil-Hadith wal-Athar, Beirut, nd. V, 69; for fiqh explanations, see Sarakhsi, I, 86.
8) Zihnî, Nimetü’l-İslâm, 57.

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