Short answer
Yes, in the Hanafi school, as long as the impurity has not spread more than a dirham beyond the opening. Using water is better, and using paper and then water is best. If it has spread more than that, washing with water is fard.
Istinja is sunnah mu'akkadah when the impurity stays at the opening. Paper, like stones, is enough; water is better and both is best. If impurity spreads beyond the opening by more than a dirham, washing it with water is fard. Using the right hand and facing or turning your back to the qiblah are makruh tahrimi.
Other madhhabs
- Shafi'i
- Istinja is required. Paper alone is valid with at least three wipes that leave the place clean.
- Hanbali
- Istinja is required. Paper alone is valid with at least three clean wipes.
Explanation
Istinja (cleaning after the toilet) can be done with water, or with stones and things like them, which today means toilet paper. Salman reported that the Prophet ﷺ forbade facing the qiblah while relieving oneself, cleaning with the right hand, and using fewer than three stones. The people of Quba were praised by Allah as "men who love to purify themselves" because they followed stones with water.
In the Hanafi school:
- Paper alone is valid. The goal is to clean the area; three wipes are recommended but not a fixed number.
- Water alone is better than paper alone.
- Paper then water is best.
- A bidet, shattaf, lota or bottle of water all count as water.
- If impurity spread more than a dirham (about the hollow of the palm) around the opening, you must wash it with water.
Toilet manners from the sunnah:
- Say the dua before entering and enter with the left foot.
- Do not face the qiblah or turn your back to it. Hanafi scholars apply this even inside buildings, while the other schools allow it there.
- Use the left hand to clean.
- Do not speak or do dhikr while relieving yourself.
- Men should make sure urine has stopped before standing up.
Wet wipes count like paper; check they are flushable to protect the plumbing.
The evidence
Quran, Surah At-Tawba 9:108
لَا تَقُمْ فِيهِ أَبَدًۭا ۚ لَّمَسْجِدٌ أُسِّسَ عَلَى ٱلتَّقْوَىٰ مِنْ أَوَّلِ يَوْمٍ أَحَقُّ أَن تَقُومَ فِيهِ ۚ فِيهِ رِجَالٌۭ يُحِبُّونَ أَن يَتَطَهَّرُوا۟ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ يُحِبُّ ٱلْمُطَّهِّرِينَ ﴿١٠٨﴾
Do not stand [for prayer] within it - ever. A mosque founded on righteousness from the first day is more worthy for you to stand in. Within it are men who love to purify themselves; and Allah loves those who purify themselves.
Allah praised the people of Quba, who cleaned themselves with water after the toilet.
Sahih Muslim 262
Sahih... او ان نستنجي باليمين او ان نستنجي باقل من ثلاثة احجار ...
"Or that we clean ourselves with the right hand, or with fewer than three stones."
Stones, and so paper, are valid for istinja, and the right hand should not be used.
Where the ruling is recorded
- Nur al-Idah with Maraqi al-Falah, Chapter on istinja. Istinja is sunnah; water and stones together are best; spreading beyond a dirham requires water.
- al-Hidaya, Kitab al-Taharat, chapter on istinja. Istinja with stones is valid; facing the qiblah is disliked.
- Minhaj al-Talibin, Kitab al-Taharah, chapter on relieving oneself. The Shafi'i requirement of three wipes.
This answer is pending review by the scholars on our team. Quran translation by Sahih International. Hadith Arabic from the standard editions of the six books and the Muwatta, with gradings as recorded there; the English is our own rendering. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.