What do Muslims say when going to the bathroom?

Question: What are the rules and manners to be followed when answering the call of nature?
ANSWER
1. When entering the toilet, one should say the A'udhu (isti'adha) and Basmala and then recite the prayer "Allahumma innee a'oodhu bika minal khubthi wal khabaa-ith."

2. When entering the toilet, one should not have in one's hand anything on which the name of Allahu ta'ala or any verse of the Qur'an al-karim is written. There is no objection if it is in one's pocket or covered with something. Similarly, when stepping into the toilet, one should not be wearing a pendant with the name of Allah on it. If one has, one should tuck it inside the neck of one's sweater before entering it.

3. It is permissible to enter the toilet with an amulet if it is covered properly.

4. One should enter the toilet with one's left foot and exit with one's right foot.

5.

7. After cleaning one's private parts, one should cover them immediately.

8. One should neither face the Qibla nor turn one's back toward it while urinating or defecating.

9.

10. When cleaning the private parts after answering the call of nature, men should wash them from the back to the front. Women should wash them from the front to the back. Thus, the genitals will not be smeared with filth, nor will it cause one to be sexually aroused by the stimulation of fingers.

11. One should dry one's private parts with a cloth after washing them. If there is not a cloth available, it is permissible to use toilet paper because toilet paper is produced to be used after answering the call of nature. But using other kinds of paper for this purpose is not permissible.

12.

13. After cleaning their private parts, men should do istibra. Women do not do it. Istibra means not to leave any drops of urine in the urethra. It is done by walking or coughing or lying on the left side.

14.

15. Istinka means a feeling of being sure and having no doubts that there are no drops of urine left, and one's heart is at ease about it. A man can make wudu' after this certitude in his heart.

17. One should not urinate while standing unless there is strong necessity for doing so and should not let drops of urine splash onto one's clothes. To that end, one should keep separate pajamas or tracksuit. It is mustahab to enter the toilet with separate pajamas and with the head covered.

19. One must not urinate into any water, on a wall of a mosque, in a cemetery, or on a road.

20. Cleaning the private parts with stones and similar materials is an acceptable substitute for cleaning them with water.

Question:

Question: I think that a western-style flush toilet is more comfortable to use. Is it permissible to use a western-style toilet instead of a squat one?

Question: Is it mustahab for both men and women to enter the toilet by covering their heads? Can a woman enter the toilet by covering her head with an underscarf (hijab accessory) instead of a headscarf?

Question: What is the sunnat method of squatting in the toilet? Should one put both hands or one hand one one's cheek?

1. Praying before entering the bathroom

As the other activities, when we will enter the bathroom, we must pray.

From Imam al-Tirmidzi from Sayyidina Ali, he said that the Prophet said,

سَتْرُ مَا بَيْنَ أَعْيُنِ الْجِنِّ وَعَوْرَاتِ بَنِى آدَمَ إِذَا دَخَلَ أَحَدُهُمُ الْخَلاَءَ أَنْ يَقُولَ بِسْمِ اللَّهِ

“The barrier between the view of jinn and human’s aurat is if one of them enters the bathroom, then he says, “bismillah”.”

From Anas bin Malik, he said,

كَانَ النَّبِىُّ – صلى الله عليه وسلم – إِذَا دَخَلَ الْخَلاَءَ قَالَ « اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّى أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنَ الْخُبُثِ وَالْخَبَائِثِ »

“The Prophet shallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam when entering the bathroom, he said: Allahumma inni a’udzu bika minal khubutsi wal khobaits (O Allah, I seek protection to You from the male satan and female satan).” (Hadith Bukhari no. 142 and Muslim no. 375)

2. Put the left foot first

The Prophet really liked to put the right foot first, however when going to the bathroom, the left foot comes first. Why? This is because bathroom is a dirty place and we enter in a dirty condition so that the left foot is prioritized which symbolizes the dirty. Meanwhile, when we comes out from the bathroom, we certainly have cleaned ourselves that is symbolized by coming out with the right foot first.

كَانَ النَّبِىُّ – صلى الله عليه وسلم – يُعْجِبُهُ التَّيَمُّنُ فِى تَنَعُّلِهِ وَتَرَجُّلِهِ وَطُهُورِهِ وَفِى شَأْنِهِ كُلِّهِ

“The Prophet shallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam preferred to put the right one first when wearing slippers, brushing hair, when purifying and in every case (that is the good one).” (Hadith Bukhari no. 168 and Muslim no. 268)

3. Not linger

One of the satan’s temptations is to linger in the bathroom. Bathroom is a satan’s place so that satan really likes to tempt human to linger in the house.

From Zaid bin Arqam radhiyallahu ‘anhu, the Prophet shallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam said, “Indeed, this toilet is avoided satan.” (Hadith Ahmad 19807, Abu Daud 6, and validated Syuaib al-Arnauth)

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4. Do not face or have your back towards qibla

When defecating in the bathroom, we should not in the position of facing or having your back towards qibla. From Abu Ayyub Al Anshori, the Prophet shallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam said,

« 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

“If you come to the bathroom, then do not face qibla and have your back towards it. However, face to the east or west.” Abu Ayyub said, “We once lived in Syam. We had our bathroom built facing to the qibla. We changed the direction of the place and we ask for forgiveness to Allah Ta’ala.” (Hadith Bukhari no. 394 and Muslim no. 264)

5. Do not istinja’ with the right hand

In Islam, the hand that is used to istinja’ is the left hand. The right hand is used to eat or other activities. From Abu Qotadah, the Prophet shallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam said,

إِذَا شَرِبَ أَحَدُكُمْ فَلاَ يَتَنَفَّسْ فِى الإِنَاءِ ، وَإِذَا أَتَى الْخَلاَءَ فَلاَ يَمَسَّ ذَكَرَهُ بِيَمِينِهِ ، وَلاَ يَتَمَسَّحْ بِيَمِينِهِ

“If one of you drinks, do not breathe in the container. If he defecates, do not hold the private parts with his right hand. Also do not istinja’ with his right hand.” (Hadith Bukhari no. 153 and Muslim no. 267)

6. Be silent

When in the bathroom, as a muslim, we should be silent without talking, even singing. Even if there is someone who gives greetings, we should keep silent. From Ibn ‘Umar radhiyallahu ‘anhuma, he said,

أَنَّ رَجُلاً مَرَّ وَرَسُولُ اللَّهِ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- يَبُولُ فَسَلَّمَ فَلَمْ يَرُدَّ عَلَيْهِ.

“There was someone who passed the Prophet shallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam and he was urinating. At that time, that person said greetings, however he did not answered it.” (Hadith Muslim no. 370)

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7. Praying after coming out from the bathroom

If entering the bathroom, we must pray, then after coming out from the bathroom, we must also pray. From ‘Aisyah radhiyallahu ‘anha, she said,

أَنَّ النَّبِىَّ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- كَانَ إِذَا خَرَجَ مِنَ الْغَائِطِ قَالَ « غُفْرَانَكَ ».

“The Prophet shallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam after he came out from the bathroom, he said “ghufronaka” (O Allah, I ask for forgiveness to You).” (Hadith Abu Daud no. 30, At Tirmidzi no. 7, Ibn Majah no. 300, Ad Darimi no. 680)

Those were the 7 manners of going to the bathroom in Islam and its verses that need to know and practice. Remember that the bathroom is a satan’s place that must be aware of, so that applying the manners according to the Islamic sharia is very important to do.

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