Using tissues to clean oneself

Reference: I’laam al-Musaafireen – Question 11, Page 15

Question: What is ‘istijmaar’; and whilst on the plane, is it permissible to do istijmaar using tissues – even though there is water? And in terms of purification, what [practice] is more complete [istinjaa or istijmaar]?

Response: Istijmaar is to purify oneself from urine and feces using [smooth] stones or an acceptable alternative; and among the acceptable alternatives are tissues – with the conditions [the area is cleaned with] at least three wipes, and that istijmaar is not done with anything which is prohibited – such as dry dung and bones – in addition to that which is worthy of respect (حُرمة), such as food and the like.

He is a graduate of the Islaamic University of Madeenah, having graduated from the Institute of Arabic Language, and later the Faculty of Sharee'ah in 2004. He currently resides in Birmingham, UK.