Part 38

5] Related by At-Tirmidhee (9), who said, “Hasan Ghareeb”; by Abu Daawood (13), and Al-Albaanee gave a ‘Hasan’ grade to his narration; by Ahmad (14458); and by Ibn Maajah (325).

down to urinate, facing it (i.e., facing his camel, so that he was also facing the Qiblah). Mirwaan said, ‘‘O Abu ‘Abdur-Rahmaan (fbn ‘Umar), was not this practice forbidden?” Ibn ‘Umar > said, “Yes, it was forbidden out in the open, but it is okay when there is something between you and the Qiblah to cover you (or to act as a barrier for you).

Because of the apparent contradiction between the preceding narrations, scholars disagree about whether it is permissible to relieve oneself when one is facing the Qiblah or turning one’s back to it. Abu Ayyoob’s narration indicates that, regardless of whether one is relieving himself in the desert or in a building, it is forbidden to face the Qiblah or to turn one’s back to it. Ibn ‘Umar’s narration indicates that it is permissible to face the Qiblah when relieving oneself, if one is in a building or if something acts as a barrier between him and the Ka’bah; in Ibn ‘Umar’s case, he placed his mount between him and the Qiblah. On the other hand, Salmaan’s hadith indicates that the prohibition is comprehensive, applying both to wide open spaces and the insides of buildings. And finally, Jaabir's hadith suggests that in the end, after having legislated a different ruling previously, the Prophet #% ruled that it is permissible to face the Qiblah and relieve oneself at the same time.

There are many opinions in this issue, simply because scholars have taken different paths in finding harmony between the various narrations. And, to be sure, harmony can be struck between them. An-Nawawee said, “Scholars agree that if it is possible to find harmony between Ahadeeth, no one should take the path of forsaking some of them [and applying some of them only]. Rather, it is compulsory to find harmony between them and to apply them all.”"") The opinion I feel is strongest is that, in a wide open space, it is forbidden to relieve oneself while facing the Qiblah or turning one’s back to it; but it is permissible when one is in a building or when there is a barrier between the

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person who is relieving himself and the Qiblah. The Permanent Council (of scholars in Saudi Arabia) has taken this view.

5) What You Should Say And Do When You Are Entering And Leaving The Bathroom

Places wherein people relieve themselves are places of impurities and filth, and the Shayaateen (devils) are known to have a penchant for such places. We know that they particular like to be in bathrooms and toilets (any place wherein people relieve themselves) based on the narration of Zaid Ibn Argam , who related that the Messenger of Allah #¢ said,

“Verily, these Hushoosh (places in which people relieve themselves) are attended [by devils]...""")

Being the enemy of man, and always looking for ways to inflict harm upon him, Shaitaan finds his enemy to be easy prey in washrooms. But to thwart Shaitaan and his evil aims, the Shariah came to protect the mind and body of man, legislating invocations that protect him by the order of Allah %€. In addition to invocations, the proper etiquette of entering the washroom is to lead with one’s left foot. Shaikh Al-Islam said, “When actions can be carried out with the left or right side, it is an established principle in the Shariah that the right be given precedence if the action is noble - such as in making ablution, taking a shower, beginning with the right side in cleaning one’s teeth, removing hair from one’s armpit, wearing clothes, wearing shoes, combing hair, entering the Masjid or home, exiting the toilet, and so on. The left is given precedence in opposite situations - entering the toilet, taking off shoes, leaving the Masjid, [and so on].”

When you are entering the washroom, it is recommended for you to say, ‘Bismillah (In the Name of Allah).” ‘Alee Ibn Abee Taalib

() Related by Abu Daawood (6), and Al-Albaanee ruled that it is authentic; by Ahmad (18800); and by fbn Maajah (296).

& reported that the Messenger of Allah # said, “The private areas of the children of Adam are veiled from the Jinn if one of them (one of the children of Adam) enters Al-Kaneef

(a place in which people relieve themselves) and says, ‘Bismillah.’

And it is Sunnah to say,

“O Allah, I take refuge with You from Al-Khubuthee and AlKhabaaith (all evil and evil-doers; or, according to a different interpretation that is based on a different reading of the words, all male and female devils).”’

We learn from the wording of another narration, ‘When one of you wants to enter Al-Khalaa (a place in which people relieve themselves),” that we should say the invocation before actually entering the bathroom. The toilet is a vile place; evil pervades it and devils inhabit it, so before entering it, you should seek refuge in Allah 3 from both evil and devils.

As you are leaving the toilet, you should lead with your right foot, saying, “I ask You (Allah) for forgiveness.” ‘Aaisha 4 said, “When the Prophet # would come out from passing stool, he would say, “I ask You (Allah) for forgiveness.” “When the Prophet # would come out” proves that you should say the invocation after you have actually come out from the toilet, and not while you are leaving it.

Related Issue: The etiquettes mentioned above are not limited to places that are regularly used for urinating and passing stool. It is also recommended to adhere to those etiquettes when you are in a wide open space - for example, when you are out camping. As you approach the spot in which you have chosen to urinate or

{! Related by Ibn Maajah (297), and Al-Albaanee ruled that it is authentic (245); and by At-Tirmidhee (606).

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pass stool, or before you are about to sit down, say the invocation of entering the bathroom. And when you are finished, say the invocation of leaving the bathroom. An-Nawawee said, “It is agreed upon that these manners are recommended, and there is no distinction between buildings and wide open spaces. And Allah 3 knows best.’!1]

6) When You Relieve Yourself, Make Sure No One Can See You

The Messenger of Allah # advised the people of his Nation to seek cover whenever they go to pass feces or urine. Whatever type of garment a person wears, he is likely to reveal some private area of his body if he relieves himself within the view of others. The Shariah came to preserve private areas of the body and to make sure they remain covered. Mugheerah Ibn Sho’bah

‘Abdullah Ibn Ja’far said, “One day, the Messenger of Allah 2%

"1 Sharh Muslim, Vol. 2 (4/60).

"I Related by Bukhaaree (363), Muslim (274), Ahmad (17668), An-Nassaaee (82), Abu Daawood (151), Ibn Maajah (545), Maalik (73), and AdDaarimee (713).

3) Related by Abu Daawood (1), and Al-Albaanee gave a ‘Hasan sahih’ grade to his narration; by An-Nassaaee (17); by Ibn Maajah (331); and by Ad-Daarimee (660).

made me sit behind him [on his mount], and he secretly told me words that I will not relate to any person. And as for the things he concealed himself under or behind when relieving himself, he loved most to conceal himself behind a high mound (or sand hill or structure; basically, anything that is high) or a cluster (or garden) of date-trees...”"7 An-Nawawee said, “The point of jurisprudence one learns from this hadith is that, when one goes to relieve himself, it is recommended for him to conceal himself behind a cluster of trees, behind a mound, in some lowland, or anything similar. What is important is that his entire body becomes hidden from the view of others, This is a Sunnah Muakkadah (Stressed Sunnah), and Allah % knows best.” Nowadays in homes and public buildings, it is no longer difficult to conceal oneself, for in homes there are doors to bathrooms, and in public washrooms, there are doors to stalls that contain toilets. All thanks and praise is to Allah, Who has made matters easy for us.

Related Issue: If one has to pass stool or urine in open terrain, he should not raise his garment until he lowers himself to the ground, especially if there is someone who can see him. This is if one is wearing a kind of garment that can be raised, such as a Thobe (long one piece garment, which covers the entire body); however, if one is wearing another type of garment, he needs to be even more careful.

7) Passing Urine When Standing Or Sitting

The basic principle in this issue is that a person should be seated when he passes urine. ‘Aaisha # said, “If anyone relates to you that the Messenger of Allah # urinated while he was standing up, then don’t believe him; he # would always be seated when he urinated.”"7] The reason being that a person who stands up and urinates is very likely to sully his body and clothes;

{I Related by Muslim (342), Ahmad (1747), Abu Daawood (2549), and Ibn Maajah (340).

'2] Related by An-Nassaaee (29), and Al-Albaanee gave a ‘sahih’ grade to his narration; by At-Tirmidhee (12); and by Ibn Maajah (307).

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nonetheless, if there is a need to do so, one may stand up and urinate. Hudhaifah # said, “... The Prophet #¢ and I were walking together when we came across the Subaatah (public dump, where people would throw dirt and filth) of a people, and it was behind a garden. He #% then stood, just as one of you stands, and passed urine. I moved away from him, but then he signaled me, and so I stood at his heels (perhaps to block him from the view of people) until he finished’) There is no contradiction between Hudhaifah’s hadith and ‘Aaisha’s saying, for the latter is taken to mean that most of the time the Messenger of Allah # sat down to urinate; we construe that meaning simply because it is authentically established that he #8 stood up and urinated. Some scholars hold that the Prophet #% stood up to urinate in order to make it clear that doing so is permissible; others maintain that he #% was in a place wherein it was not possible for him to sit down to urinate.