Turkey’s top religious authority stated in a fatwa on Thursday that Muslims are ‘allowed’ to use toilet paper if water is not available, clarifying that water is still ‘preferable’ for cleansing after using the washroom.
“If water cannot be found for cleansing, other cleaning materials can be used,” the Directorate of Religious Affairs, or Diyanet, said in a statement about the fatwa.
“Even though some sources deem paper to be unsuitable as a cleaning material, as it is an apparatus for writing, there is no problem in using toilet paper,” it added.
The previous prohibition on the use of toilet paper was established by Qadaahul Haajah. The rules were conceived before the invention of toilet paper or toilet seats. While not compulsory, they are observed by many devout Muslims.