Proper bathroom etiquette should always be important for every Muslim when using the facilities and it is important to follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). We will learn etiquette of using the toilet in Islamic way, how Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) used to answer the call of nature.
The Basic Toilet Manners in Islam
Dua’a Before Entering:
Our Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) taught us that when entering the toilet, we should say:
“اللهم إِن أعوذ بك من اخلبث و اخلبائث”
(Allahumma inni a’udhi bika min al-khubthi wal-khabaith) The meaning is “O Allah, I seek refuge with You from male and female devils”
Concealment
A person should be concealed from the sight of others when answering the call of nature. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) used to prefer to go behind a rise in the ground or a garden of date palms. If a person is out in an open space and cannot find anything to conceal him when he needs to answer the call of nature, he should move far away from the other people around him.
Should Not Face the Qiblah
When urinating or defecating. This is out of respect for the Qiblah and for the symbols and rituals of Allah. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: When any one of you sits down to answer the call of nature, he should not face the qiblah or turn his back towards it. ( Muslim, 389).
Squatting
A person should not uncover his `awrah (private parts) until after he has squatted close to the ground, because this is more concealing. As Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: When the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) wanted to answer the call of nature, he would not lift his garment until he had squatted close to the ground. (Reported by al-Tirmidhi, 14; see also Sahih al-Jami’, 4652) Avoiding
Splattering
The Sunnah is to answer the call of nature sitting, making oneself close to the ground, because this is more concealing, and makes it less likely that spray from one’s urine will come back on one’s body or clothes, making them dirty. If a person can be sure of avoiding this, then it is permissible to urinate standing up.
Avoiding Conversation
One should not greet a person who is answering the call of nature , or return a greeting whilst one is answering the call of nature, out of respect to Allah by not mentioning His name in a dirty place . Jabir ibn ‘Abd-Allah reported that a man passed by the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) whilst he was urinating, and greeted him. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said to him: If you see me in this state, do not greet me, because if you do, I will not respond. (Reported by Ibn Majah, 346; see also Sahih al-Jami’, 575) The majority of scholars say that it is makruh (disliked) to speak in the restroom unnecessarily.
Avoiding Prohibited Places
A person should not urinate by the roadside or in places where people seek shade, because this is offensive to them. Abu Hurayrah reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: Fear the two things that bring curses. They asked, What are the two things that bring curses, O Messenger of Allah? He said: When a person relieves himself in the road where people walk or in the place where they seek shade. (Reported by Abu Dawud, 23; see also Sahih al-Jami’, 110)
Cleaning Method
Any impurity should be washed or wiped three times or an odd number of times greater than three, according to whatever is needed to cleanse it, because `Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) used to wash his posterior three times.
Using Left Hand
He should not remove impurity with his right hand; the left hand should be used for this purpose, because of the hadith quoted above, and because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: When any one of you wipes himself, he should not use his right hand. (Reported by al-Bukhari, 5199)
He should not touch his penis with his right hand when urinating, because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: When any one of you urinates, he should not hold his penis in his right hand or clean it with his right hand; and (when drinking), he should not breathe into the vessel. (Reported by al-Bukhari, 150)
Removing with Water (Istinjaa), And / Or Removing with Dry Material (Istijmaar)
He should not use bones or dung to clean himself or wipe away the impurity; rather, he should use tissue, stones, and the like. Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that he used to carry a vessel for the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) to do wudu and clean himself after answering the call of nature.
Dua’a After Leaving
when entering the toilet, we should say:
“غفرانك”
(Ghufraanak) The meaning is “Oh allah, I seek your forgiveness”. Then, entering with left foot & leaving with right foot.
Allah knows the best. May Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala) guide all of us to His Truth and purify of our intentions, and allow us to enter Jannah together. And may Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala) accept all our good deeds and help us in the cause, forgive our mistakes and make us amongst the Muntaqeen & By His Mercy make us all Inhabitants of Jannah. Ameen ya rabbal’alameen.
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