You may say that this is a strange topic to be writing about. However, we all visit the bathroom and as we know, it is a place of filth where we relieve ourselves of the filth in our bodies. Have we ever stopped to think what the Islamic etiquette is to visit the bathroom or has it become an automated everyday action? We must be aware that this beautiful religion has even instructed us on how to clean after relieving ourselves. Just observe the greatness of Islam that nothing, major or minor, has been left out. At the time of the Prophet (peace be upon him), when one of the polytheists said to Salman Al-Farsi mockingly, “Your Prophet has taught you everything, even how to defecate!” Salman replied with pride, “Yes, indeed! He forbade us to face the Qiblah when urinating or defecating.” (Al-Tirmidhi, no. 16) Therefore, we should know that this is not a matter of shame, but something we should be proud of. Below are some points are listed that we should remember when visiting the bathroom. 1. Always enter with the left leg and recite the du'a: “Allahumma innee a'oodhu bika minal-Khubthi wal-Khabaa'ith” (O Allah! I seek refuge in you from male and female noxious beings (devils or evil Jinn).” 2. Don't face the Qiblah or show your back towards it. The Messenger of Allah (peace 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.” (Sahih Muslim, no. 389) 3. Allah's name should not be mentioned in the toilet, nor should anything that has the name of Allah on it be carried inside. 4. The person should do his/her best not to clean the private parts with the right hand. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “When any one of you answers the call of nature, he should not hold his private part in his right hand or clean it with his right hand; and (when drinking), he should not breathe into the vessel.” (Al-Bukhari, no. 150) 5. The Sunnah is to answer the call of nature sitting, making oneself close to the ground, because this is more concealing and it will be less likely that filth will fall on one's body or clothes. Though it is permissible to urinate while standing if a person can be sure of avoiding filth, it is not something recommended. 7. One should not talk while relieving as this has been classified as Makrooh (disliked) by many of scholars. 8. Many people today go into the toilet and start reading a newspaper or a book. It is common to find that people have even resorted to entering the toilet to get away from things and contemplate. This is not the place to do these things. May Allah protect us from that. 9. When leaving you should go out with your right leg and say, “Ghufraanak” [I ask You (Allah) for forgiveness]. Again, we should be thankful to Allah that He has made the religion simple for us. Allah has taught us how to protect ourselves from evil. Be sure that toilets are from among the evil and dirty places. Abu Dawood and Ibn Majah hav narrated that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “These toilets are visited (by jinn), so when any one of you goes to the toilet, let him say, ‘O Allah, I seek refuge with You from evil and from the male and female devils.'” (Ibn Majah, authenticated by Al-Albani) The great scholar Sheikh Bin Uthaymeen said in Al-Sharh Al-Mumti, vol. 1, p. 83: The benefit of saying Bismillah is that it conceals a person. The benefit of seeking refuge with Allah is that one is turning to Allah from evil and from the male and female devils, for this place is filthy and a filthy place is the abode of those who are evil. Therefore, it is the abode of the devils. Thus it is appropriate if one wants to enter the toilet to say (the du'a) so that he will not be harmed.
