Question

Salaams just wanted to ask my son has special needs he’s got a learning difficulty and mild autism when he goes to do istinja he can’t do it properly he will leave poo stains on his pants so he finds it difficult to pray what is the correct way of doing istinja for him

Answer

Any method of washing which removes impurities from the body will suffice. From what we understand, those that suffer with mild autism should eventually be able to carry out tasks in a similar manner to those who do not have autism though it may take some time for them to get there. In the mean time he could change his pants before he prays to minimise impurities on his clothing.

As for the impurity on his body if it is a small negligible amount then it will not render the salat invalid. A negligible amount is the amount which the concave of ones palm can retain.

If the impurity is more than that amount then for the time being we would consider him excused as he is unable to fully understand how to remove those impurities and therefore would not be accountable for this. However, you should keep trying to explain to him how he should wash himself.

Answered by:
Ifta Research Fellow

Checked & Approved by:
Mufti Abdul Rahman Mangera
Mufti Zubair Patel