بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ

Etiquettes of the Toilet — In the Light of Hadith

Do Not Face or Turn Your Back Toward the Qiblah:

“Hazrat Abu Ayyub al-Ansari رضي الله عنه narrates that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: ‘When you go to relieve yourselves, do not face the Qiblah nor turn your back toward it.’” (Sahih Bukhari, Sahih Muslim)

“Hazrat Salman رضي الله عنه narrates that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ forbade us from facing the Qiblah while defecating or urinating, from cleansing ourselves with the right hand, from using fewer than three stones for purification, and from using dung or bones for purification.” (Sahih Muslim)

Using dung or bones for purification was prohibited because they are food for the jinn, who are among Allah’s creation.

Prohibition of Relieving Oneself in Pathways or Shaded Places:

“Hazrat Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه narrates that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: ‘Avoid the two actions that bring about curses.’ The Companions رضي الله عنهم asked: ‘O Messenger of Allah ﷺ, what are those two actions?’ He replied: ‘Relieving oneself on pathways used by people or in their shaded places.’” (Sahih Muslim)

Do Not Cleanse Yourself with the Right Hand:

“Hazrat Abu Qatadah رضي الله عنه narrates that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: ‘When one of you drinks, he should not breathe into the vessel; and when he goes to relieve himself, he should neither touch his private parts with his right hand nor cleanse himself with it.’” (Sahih Bukhari, Sahih Muslim)

“Hazrat ‘A’ishah رضي الله عنها narrates that the right hand of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ was used for wudu and eating, and the left hand for purification and for removing unpleasant matters (such as nasal discharge).” (Sunan Abu Dawood)

From these narrations it is also understood that tasbih (remembrance using prayer beads or fingers) should not be done with the left hand; the Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to perform tasbih with his right hand.

Talking During Relieving Oneself Is Prohibited:

“Hazrat Abu Sa‘id al-Khudri رضي الله عنه narrates that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: ‘Two persons should not sit relieving themselves while exposing their private parts and converse with one another, for Allah is displeased with this.’” (Sunan Ibn Majah, Sunan Abu Dawood)

Supplication When Entering the Toilet:

“Hazrat Zaid ibn Arqam رضي الله عنه narrates that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: ‘These places of relieving oneself are inhabited by harmful creatures such as shayatin; therefore, when one of you enters the toilet, he should say:’

اَللّٰهُمَّ اِنِّیْ اَعُوْذُ بِکَ مِنَ الْخُبُثِ وَالْخَبَائِث

‘O Allah, I seek refuge in You from male and female devils.’” (Sunan Abu Dawood, Sunan Ibn Majah)