The etiquettes of relieving oneself

Summary

The Islamic etiquettes of relieving oneself emphasise:

  • Cleanliness by: avoiding getting urine/faeces on the clothes, washing any traces of urine/faeces from the private parts and using the left hand for toileting

  • Protecting oneself from the evil spirits (jinn)

  • Not speaking Allah's name when in the presence of a toilet or turning one's body or back towards the Qiblah (in Mecca) out of respect

  • Not speaking to anyone whilst relieving oneself

  • Relieving oneself in private

Before entering the toilet a person should say: 

Bismillah  

("In the name of Allah") 

and  

Allahumma inni a'udhu bika minal khubuthi wal khabaa'ith 

("Oh Allah, I seek protection in You from unclean spirits, male and female")

By saying the above two phrases it protects the person from the shaytaan (evil spirits/jinn), which, because they are evil, like to frequent dirty places and bring harm to people. 

By saying "Bismillah" before entering the toilet, Allah places a screen between the 'awrah (private parts) or a person and the jinn.    

Upon entering the toilet a person should:

  • Step into the toilet with their left foot first

 In the toilet a person should:

  • Not speak to anyone.  If someone offers their salaam (greetings) then the person should reply once they have left the "toilet".  This applies even if the person is relieving themselves outdoors.
  • Not refer to Allah by His names out of respect for Him.  This is not forbidden, but disliked. Saying Allah's name includes saying the dua'a (supplications) when sneezing, since this involves saying Allah's name also.  There is nothing wrong with remembering Allah in one's heart without speaking.  The condition of not mentioning Allah's name also applies if one is in an area where there is a toilet, even if one is not relieving themselves (for example, some bathrooms have the toilet in them, rather than in a separate room).  The exception is if one is performing wudu (ablution) in the bathroom, then they should still say "Bismillah" beforehand, since this is more important.
  • Relieve his/herself sitting down / squatting close to the ground so as to not spray any urine onto the body or clothes and to conceal one's private parts as much as possible.
  • Not face the Qiblah (the direction of the Kaaba in Makkah (Mecca)), nor turn his/her back towards the Qiblah, out of respect

The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) 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." 

  • Try to avoid getting urine/faeces on the clothes.  Note: In practice, Muslims will often have a specially designated pair or shoes or slippers that are kept in or just outside the toilet that can be worn into the toilet so that no urine etc that may be on the floor will get on the socks or feet.
  • Use his/her left hand to clean or wipe themselves (unless there is a genuine reason for not doing so, such as having a disability or illness)

The Prophet (PBUH) 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." 

The Prophet (PBUH) said: "When any one of you wipes himself, he should not use his right hand." 

  • Remove all traces of urine or faeces from the body.  This practice is known as Istinjah. This is preferably down with water, but if no water can be found then three (or an odd number of) smooth stones or three pieces of other dry material (such as leaves or paper) will suffice.  In practice a Muslim will normally keep some water in the toilet in a small jug or 'watering can' or have water on tap with a hose.

The Prophet (PBUH) warned against being careless in cleaning oneself after urinating: "Most of the punishment of the grave will be because of urine." 

The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) passed by two graves, and said: "They are being punished, but they are not being punished for any major sin. One of them used not to protect himself (i.e. keep himself clean from) his urine, and the other used to walk about spreading malicious gossip." 

 

Upon leaving the toilet a person should:

  • Step out of the toilet with their right foot first

After leaving the toilet a person should:

  • Say:

Ghufranaaka 

("I seek Your forgiveness")

 Other etiquette relating to relieving oneself:

  • One should relieve oneself away from where people may see them (i.e. in private).  It is very undesirable to use urinals and so on because other people can see a person relieving himself and uncovering his private parts (in addition to the issue of standing urinating) and this goes against the modesty and decency that Allah has enjoined upon humans. 
  • One should not relieve themselves by the roadside, under a tree or other places where people may sit to rest or seek shade
  • One should not urinate into stagnant water, as it makes the water impure and harms the people who may use it
  • A person should avoid offering salaam (greetings) to a person who is relieving him/herself

 

Read about other Islamic etiquettes

 


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