Bismillah, assalamu alaykum, i had sent you a question and you gave me this answer (Fatwa no. 170735), but i have still some remarks regarding it: You have said that the hardship i find and the long time for istinja might be because of whispers, but in my opinion it isn't whispers, because i see the trace. If i don't clean myself for 30 mins or sometimes more, then there is still a ýellow trace. The big parts of the stool are removed, but there is still a yellow trace, which becomes light after a time, but as i said before it is still existent. Finally i would like to add that i have some problems with my digestion, by what my stool is more creamy and soft. So my questions regarding it are: 1. When should i stop cleaning myself exactly? Because 30 minutes and so much water, tissues are a big burden for me. 2. What should i do, when i'm at journey or outdoor or when i don't have so much water and tissues? 3. After a while (some hours) i still see some very light yellow traces, i don't know if it is sweat or some trace of stool, i think it is very likely a trace of stool. Is this light trace excused? Must i check myself after a while if there is another trace? Excuse me my further asking but it is very important for me. Jazakumullahu khayran.

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds.  I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger.

If your situation has reached the point which you mentioned - that the yellow trace is not removed even with the use of water except with hardship, then this trace is overlooked after you have done your best (to remove it). It is known (as an Islamic principle) that hardship necessitates (brings) ease. Indeed, a group of jurists are of the view that the trace of Istijmaar (cleaning oneself after the call of nature with stone, wood or tissue and the like) is excused at the usual place of discharge [urine or feces] because of the hardship (of washing it). Kashshaaf Al-Qinaa’, which is one of the books of the Hanbali School of jurisprudence, reads, “The trace of Istijmaar is impure and its small remnants are excused at their usual place of discharge because of the hardship (of washing it).”

This is the opinion of the Hanafi and Maaliki Schools of jurisprudence, and the view of the later scholars of the Hanbali School of jurisprudence.

Moreover, many jurists are of the view that small impurities which are difficult to avoid [get rid of] are excused.

For instance, Shaykhul-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah said, “The majority of the scholars are of the view that the appearance of a small part of the ‘Awrah and a small quantity of impurity which are difficult to avoid are excused.”

Therefore, if you perform Istinjaa’ (which is to remove what comes out of the two private parts from the place where it comes out or the place that is nearest it by washing it with water) or Istijmaar (by wiping it with stones and the like) after relieving yourself and you did your best without any hardship that you could not bear, then you did what you are required to do and the fact that a yellow trace remains does not harm you. However, if the yellow trace comes out after having performed Istinjaa’, then you are affected with incontinence.

For more on the rulings on incontinence, please refer to Fatwas 163887 and 152651.

You may also refer to Fatwas 170735 and 131647.

Allaah Knows best.