20 etiquettes of using the toilet in Islam
Going to the toilet is a human need. There is complete guidance in Islam on how to fulfil this need. Imam Abu Dawood has organized around twenty-five chapters in Sunan Abi Dawood, where he describes the etiquettes of using the toilet in the light of Ahadith.
Islam is so comprehensive and complete that it has prescribed manners even for this minor thing, which is why Islam is also called the religion of nature. In this blog post I’m going to explan 20 etiquettes of using the toilet in Islam that Muslims should follow.
1 - Take Off the Ring When Entering the toilet
One should take off any rings and amulets with Allah’s name engraved on them, or any Quranic verses and suplications written on them that are not warpped before going to the toilet.
Anas (May Allah be pleased with him) said:
عَنْ أَنَسٍ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم كَانَ إِذَا دَخَلَ الْخَلاَءَ نَزَعَ خَاتَمَهُ
When entering the Khala’, the Messenger of Allah [SAW] would take off his ring. (Nasai:5213)
2 - Covering the head and wearing slippers when going to toilet
Habib bin Saleh (May Allah be pleased with him) said:
عن حبيب بن صالح، قال: كان رسول الله – صلى الله عليه وسلم – إذا دخل الخلاء لبس حذاءه، وغطى رأسه
The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) used to wear slippers, and cover head when entering the lavatory. (Baihaqi:456)
4 - Being Screened While Relieving
Anas bin Malik (May Allah be pleased with him) said:
عَنْ أَنَسٍ، قَالَ كَانَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم إِذَا أَرَادَ الْحَاجَةَ لَمْ يَرْفَعْ ثَوْبَهُ حَتَّى يَدْنُوَ مِنَ الأَرْضِ
“When the Prophet wanted to relieve himself, he would not raise his garment until he was close to the ground.” Tirmidhi:14
5 - Enter the toilet with your left foot first
We are asked to start goods things with the right sides. Prophet Muhammad ﷺ liked to begin with the right side as much as possible in all his affairs. But toilet is a place of impurities so It is important to enter the toilet with left foot.
6 - Seclusion While Relieving
One should find a place away from people’s eyes if he/she must urinate in the open. For instance, in small villages where there aren’t separate designated spots for toilets one should choose a place where no one can see his/her satar.
Mughirah bin Shubah (May Allah be pleased with him) said:
عَنِ الْمُغِيرَةِ بْنِ شُعْبَةَ، أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم كَانَ إِذَا ذَهَبَ الْمَذْهَبَ أَبْعَدَ .
When the Prophet (ﷺ) went (outside) to relieve himself, he went to a far-off place. (Sunan Abi Dawud:1)
Jabir bin Abdillah (May Allah be pleased with him) said:
عَنْ جَابِرِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم كَانَ إِذَا أَرَادَ الْبَرَازَ انْطَلَقَ حَتَّى لاَ يَرَاهُ أَحَدٌ .
When the Prophet (ﷺ) felt the need of relieving himself, he went far off where no one could see him. (Sunan Abi Dawud:2)
7 - Choosing An Appropriate Place To Urinate
One should find a place where urine and filth do not splash on his clothes and body. One should find a soft ground with no risk of flying urine droplets. If one is relieving themself in built toilet they should still make sure to not get droplets of urine on themselves.
Abu Musa (May Allah be pleased with him) said:
عَنْ أَبِي مُوسَى، إِنِّي كُنْتُ مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ذَاتَ يَوْمٍ فَأَرَادَ أَنْ يَبُولَ فَأَتَى دَمِثًا فِي أَصْلِ جِدَارٍ فَبَالَ ثُمَّ قَالَ صلى الله عليه وسلم “ إِذَا أَرَادَ أَحَدُكُمْ أَنْ يَبُولَ فَلْيَرْتَدْ لِبَوْلِهِ مَوْضِعًا ” .
One day I was in the company of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ). He wanted to urinate. Then he came to a soft ground at the foot of a wall and urinated. He (the Prophet) then said: If any of you wants to urinate, he should look for a place (like this) for his urination.
(Sunan Abi Dawud:3)
- Avoiding (The Splatter) Of Urine
Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) said:
وَعَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ - رضى الله عنه - قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اَللَّهِ - صلى الله عليه وسلم - اِسْتَنْزِهُوا مِنْ اَلْبَوْلِ, فَإِنَّ عَامَّةَ عَذَابِ اَلْقَبْرِ مِنْهُ
Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said: “Beware of (smearing yourselves with) urine, because it is the main cause of punishment in the grave”.
(Ad-DaraQutni:7/128)
8 - Prohibition Of Facing The Qiblah When Defecating And Urinating
While defecating, neither face nor turn your back to the Qibla but instead face either east or the west.
Abu Aiyub Al-Ansari (May Allah be pleased with him) said:
عَنْ أَبِي أَيُّوبَ الأَنْصَارِيِّ، أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ : إِذَا أَتَيْتُمُ الْغَائِطَ فَلاَ تَسْتَقْبِلُوا الْقِبْلَةَ وَلاَ تَسْتَدْبِرُوهَا، وَلَكِنْ شَرِّقُوا أَوْ غَرِّبُوا قَالَ أَبُو أَيُّوبَ فَقَدِمْنَا الشَّأْمَ فَوَجَدْنَا مَرَاحِيضَ بُنِيَتْ قِبَلَ الْقِبْلَةِ، فَنَنْحَرِفُ وَنَسْتَغْفِرُ اللَّهَ تَعَالَى
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “While defecating, neither face nor turn your back to the Qibla but face either east or west.” Abu Aiyub added. “When we arrived in Sham we came across some lavatories facing the Qibla; therefore we turned ourselves while using them and asked for Allah’s forgiveness.”
(Sunan Abi Dawud:9)
NOTE: Whenever we design a bathroom in our homes, hotels, or anywhere, we should ensure that the commode or toilet do not face and back the Qiblah. Commode should face east or west.
9 - Put your weight on the left foot and straighten the right foot
While defecating, straighten the right foot and put your weight on the left foot, this position also facilitates abstinence.
Suraqah bin Ja’sham (May Allah be pleased with him) said:
عن سراقة بن جعشم -رضي الله عنه- قال: عَلَّمَنَا رسول الله -صلى الله عليه وسلم- إذا دخل أَحَدُنَا الخلاء أن يَعْتَمِد اليسرى، وينصِب اليمنى.
The Prophet teachs us, When a person relieves himself, put weight on the left foot, straighten the right foot. Baihaqi
The scholars have said: The wisdom – and God knows best – is that it is easier to defecate; because the stomach is on the left side, so from a medical point of view, if one relies on his left leg, it will be easier to get the fecal matter out.
As for the moral aspect, the left side is used to remove filth and dirt, and the right is used for good things. Therefore, it’s better to not rely upon the right leg while defecating.
10 - The Prohibition Of Urinating While Standing
Avoid urinate while standing up without any compulsion.
Ummul Momineen Aysha (May Allah be pleased with her) said:
عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، قَالَتْ مَنْ حَدَّثَكُمْ أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم كَانَ يَبُولُ قَائِمًا فَلاَ تُصَدِّقُوهُ مَا كَانَ يَبُولُ إِلاَّ قَاعِدًا .
“Whoever narrated to you that the Prophet would urinate while standing; then do not believe him. He would not urinate except while squatting.”
11 - Don't use right hand in Toilet
Don’t clean with the right hand, unless there is a valid excuse to use it.
Ummul Momineen Hafsa (May Allah be pleased with her) said:
حَفْصَةُ، زَوْجُ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم كَانَ يَجْعَلُ يَمِينَهُ لِطَعَامِهِ وَشَرَابِهِ وَثِيَابِهِ وَيَجْعَلُ شِمَالَهُ لِمَا سِوَى ذَلِكَ .
The Prophet (ﷺ) used his right hand for taking his food and drink and used his left hand for other purposes.
12 - Don't look at the private parts or filth, nor the sky, nor play with the parts Be careful with spitting and cleaning the nose
Do Not Look At The Private Parts And Filth, Nor Look At The Sky, Nor Play With The Parts Be Careful With Spitting And Cleaning The Nose.
(Al-Bahr Al-Ra’iq, Kitab Al-Anjas 421/1)
13 - Do not urinate in burrows
Do not urinate nor defecate in any hole, burrows of animals and insects.
Abdillah bin Sarjis (May Allah be pleased with him) said:
عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ سَرْجِسَ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم نَهَى أَنْ يُبَالَ فِي الْجُحْرِ . قَالَ قَالُوا لِقَتَادَةَ مَا يُكْرَهُ مِنَ الْبَوْلِ فِي الْجُحْرِ قَالَ كَانَ يُقَالُ إِنَّهَا مَسَاكِنُ الْجِنِّ .
The Prophet (ﷺ) prohibited to urinate in a hole.
Qatadah (a narrator) was asked about the reason for the disapproval of urinating in a hole. He replied: It is said that these (holes) are the habitats of the jinn. Abudawud:29
14 - It is Disliked To Urinate In The Washing Area
Abdillah bin Mughaffal (May Allah be pleased with him) said:
عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ مُغَفَّلٍ، أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم نَهَى أَنْ يَبُولَ الرَّجُلُ فِي مُسْتَحَمِّهِ . وَقَالَ “ إِنَّ عَامَّةَ الْوَسْوَاسِ مِنْهُ ” .
the Prophet prohibited that a man should urinate in his bathing area. And he said: “It will only cause misgivings.” (Tirmidhi:21)
15 - It Is Prohibited To Urinate in path or shady place where someone is likely to sit
Muaaz Bin Jabal (May Allah be pleased with him) said:
عَنْ مُعَاذِ بْنِ جَبَلٍ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم “ اتَّقُوا الْمَلاَعِنَ الثَّلاَثَ الْبَرَازَ فِي الْمَوَارِدِ وَقَارِعَةِ الطَّرِيقِ وَالظِّلِّ ” .
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: Be on your guard against three things which provoke cursing: easing in the watering places and on the thoroughfares, and in the shade (of the tree). (Abudawud:26)
16 - The prohibition of urinating into standing water
Jabir (May Allah be pleased with him) said:
عَنْ جَابِرٍ، عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَنَّهُ نَهَى أَنْ يُبَالَ فِي الْمَاءِ الرَّاكِدِ .
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) forbade to urinate in stagnant water. (Muslim:281)
17 - Do not talk when relieving oneself
Abu Sa’id (May Allah be pleased with him) reported God’s messenger as saying,
عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «لَا يَخْرُجِ الرَّجُلَانِ يَضْرِبَانِ الْغَائِطَ كَاشِفَيْنِ عَنْ عَوْرَتِهِمَا يَتَحَدَّثَانِ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ يَمْقُتُ عَلَى ذَلِكَ» . رَوَاهُ أَحْمَدُ وَأَبُو دَاوُدَ وَابْنُ مَاجَهْ
“Two people should not go together to relieve themselves and uncover their private parts and talk, for God is angry with that.”
18 - Do not respond to Salam While Urinating
Abdillah bin Sarjis (May Allah be pleased with him) said:
عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ، قَالَ مَرَّ رَجُلٌ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَهُوَ يَبُولُ فَسَلَّمَ عَلَيْهِ فَلَمْ يَرُدَّ عَلَيْهِ .
“A man passed by the Prophet (sal Allaahu alayhi wa sallam ) while he was urinating, and saluted him. The Prophet (sal Allaahu alayhi wa sallam) did not return the salutation to him.” Abudawud:16
20 - After leaving bathroom, rub your hands on soil or wash with soap etc
Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) said:
عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ: كَانَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ إِذَا أَتَى الْخَلَاءَ أَتَيْتُهُ بِمَاءٍ فِي تَوْرٍ أَوْ رَكْوَةٍ فَاسْتَنْجَى ثُمَّ مَسَحَ يَدَهُ عَلَى الْأَرْضِ ثُمَّ أَتَيْتُهُ بِإِنَاءٍ آخَرَ فَتَوَضَّأَ.
“When the Prophet went to the privy I brought him water in a small vessel or a skin and he cleaned himself, after which he wiped his hand on the ground. I then brought him another vessel and he performed ablution.” Mishkat:360
These are the 20 manners of using toilet in Islam (20 etiquettes of using the toilet in Islam) that Muslims should follow in their daily life. The way of Sunnah is the way of sucsuss. May Allah make us from them who follow the sunnah of Holy Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم ۔
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