a means of keeping away from the misgivings and doubts that Satan casts into a person’s mind.

“And wiping it with his left hand, once he has finished urinating, from the base of his penis to its tip, three times, …”

His statement, “And wiping it with his left hand …” means that it is recommended, after he has finished urinating, to wipe from the base of the penis—at the anal opening—to its tip three times, so that any urine remaining in the urethra may come out. For urine may sometimes remain, and then come out when he stands or moves. For this reason, they say that he should milk it by wiping from the anal opening to its tip.

This is a very weak opinion, because nothing to this effect has been authentically reported from the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him. It is also harmful to the urinary passages, which may be damaged by such wiping—especially if this is combined with shaking it, for that causes urinary discharge. Hence Shaykh al-Islam said: “The penis is like an udder: if you milk it, it yields milk; but if you leave it alone, it becomes still” (1). Accordingly, wiping is not recommended. Rather, when the urine has ceased, he should wash only the tip of the penis.

His statement, “And shaking it three times”: shaking means that a person moves his penis from within, not with his hand, based on the hadith: “When one of you urinates, let him shake his penis three times” (2). They said that this is so that any remaining urine, if there is any, may come out. But the hadith is weak and cannot be relied upon. Shaking it is a form of prohibited excessiveness. Hence Shaykh al-Islam said: “Shaking is an innovation and is not”