USING THE TOILET
From the last edition. We narrated to you some of the manners of using the toilets and what should be avoided while doing so. It was mentioned that going to the toilets is a mercy from Allaah and that when you are in an open space, you should avoid facing the Qiblah or turning your back directly towards it. Rather, you should turn westward or eastward (that is right or left). However, as for the toilets in our homes and any other type that is having a barrier, whichever way you turn, then it is permissible.
You were also informed that it is unbefitting to defecate or urinate in certain places and that whoever does so may earn the curses of the people who may be deprived of the benefits of such arena. We continue with more details. Hide your nakedness! Your nakedness termed al - awrah in Arabic are those parts of your body that must be concealed from the view of others. Of these parts, your genitals ranks amongst the most important to be concealed. Jaabir bin Sakhr (RA) reported that the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessing be upon him) said: "We have surely been prohibited from exposing our awrahs." (al- Hakim).
Also, Muawiyah bin Haydah (RA) related that the companions asked: "0 Allaah's Messenger! In regard to our awrah, when are we required to cover it, and when are we permitted to uncover it?" He said: "Guard your awrah, except from your wife or your female (captive) slave. They asked him: "What if men are with other men?" He replied: "If you can manage to let no one see it, then no one may see if They asked him: "What if one is alone by himself?" He replied: "Allaah deserves that you be shy of Him more than you be shy of the people." (Ahmad)
What a bad manner! Thus, from all that has been said, it is unbecoming and an absence of haya (having modesty and a good sense of shame) for a Muslim male or female to be found defecating (or urinating) by the roadside in the full glare of passers by.
AI - Mugheerah bin Shubah (RA) narrated that: "When the Prophet (peace and blessing be upon him) would go to a place in order to pass stool or urine, he would go far away (so that no one could see him)." (Abu Dawood) The Prophet (peace and blessing be upon him) would go far away because at that time, toilets were not a part of the home structure. Aaisha (RA) said: "... And we used not to go to answer the call of nature except from night to night and that was before we had lavatories near to our houses ... (Bukhari). The Praise is for Allaah who has made the matter lighter upon us such that today; it is no longer difficult to conceal ourselves since there are doors to the toilets and bathrooms. All you need do is to recite the recommended supplications before entry and as you exit! Urinating while standing or sitting. While urinating, the most important factor to consider is that neither your body nor your clothes should be soiled with urine.
So, you would find that the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessing be upon him) urinated while squatting or in a sitting position most of the time as his wife Aaisha (RA) narrated that: "If anyone relates to. you that the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessing be upon him) urinated while he was standing up, then dont believe him; he would always be seated when he urinated." (Tirmidhi) Nevertheless, he would at times urinate in the standing posture to show its permissibility, as long as you do not fear any fitnah.
Hudhayfah bin AI-Yaman (RA) said: "The Prophet (peace and blessing be upon him) and I were walking together when we came across the public dump, where people would throw dirt and filth and it was behind a garden. He then stood, just as one of you stands, and passed urine. I moved away from him, but then he signalled me, and so I stood at his heels (perhaps to block him from the view of people) until he finished." (Muslim)
Clean with your left hand: The right parts of the body have been honoured over its left part. Thus, we have been instructed to eat and drink with it and to do blessed acts with the right hand and foot and we have been instructed not to put them to ignoble use. Hence, whenever you finish from the toilets, always use your left hand to clean yourself and not the right hand.
Abu Qataadah (RA) related that the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessing be upon him) said: When one of you urinates, then let him not hold his private part with his right hand; let him not then clean himself with his right hand and .whenever he drinks, let him not breathe into a glass (or any vessel -used for drinking). " (Bukhari). This ruling is also applicable to cleaning the anus after defecation. lhe cleanings process.
Performing al-Istinjaa and at- Istijmaar: AI - Istinjaa is to clean the affected area with water while AI - Istijmaar is to clean the affected area with stones and all that is similarly used as permissible substitutes today such as tissue paper. This is Allaah's mercy upon His servants and facilitation from Him so that we can become pure and clean, since not everyone will be able to use water in all situations and at every moment. Allaah says: "Allaah intends ease for you, and He does not want to make things difficult for you." (AI- Baqarah [2]: 185)
Abu Hurayrah (RA) said: "I followed the . Prophet (peace and blessing be upon him) and he went to relieve himself. He " did not turn around, and I approached him. Then he said: "Search out for stones, I will purify myself with them; or , he said something similar. (Then he 1said): "And do not bring me any bones or manure. " Then, with the side of my garment, I brought stones to him, and I placed them at his side. I turned away from him, and when he finished, he used - them (to purify himself). (Bukhari)
Avoid bones and manure!: Although stones and its substitutes have been made permissible for us, the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessing be upon him) has disallowed us from using bones and (caked) manure. First, because they are impurities by themselves and secondly, both are food for the Jinns and their animals. Abdullah bin Masud (RA) related that: "The Prophet (peace and blessing be upon him) went to a place prepared as a toilet and he ordered me to bring him three stones, but I only found two stones, and though I searched for a third I could not find one. So I took a piece of manure, and I went with what I had to the Prophet. He took the two stones and cast away the manure. And he said: "This is impure." (Bukhari).
Abu Hurayrah (RA) also related that: "I said: what is the problem with bones and manure? The Prophet (peace and blessing be upon him) said: "They are the food of Jinns. A delegation of Jinns from Naseebeen - and good indeed are those Jinns - came to me and asked me for provision, and so I invoked Allaah for them - that they should never pass by any bone or manure except that they should find food upon them. " (Bukhari in ai- Manaaqib) Do it an odd number of times. Gleaning up - after using the toilet should be done in odd numbers the least been three times or repetitions using stones, water and all that is suitable and permissible.
Abu Hurayrah (RA) narrated that the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessing be upon him) said: "When one of you performs purification after using the toilets, then let him perform it an odd number of times. (Bukhari)
No talking!: There are some amongst mankind whose talking ability is most manifest while they are in the toilets. Some have gone as far as supplicating while they are defecating! This is not correct. It is disliked to talk while you are relieving yourself except in cases of necessity. Muhajir bin Qunfudh (RA) came to the Prophet (peace and blessing be upon him) while he was urinating. He saluted him. The Prophet did not return the salutation to him until he performed ablution. He then apologized to him, saying: "I disliked remembering Allaah except in the state of purification." (Abu Dawood) -
Abu Saeed (RA) reported that he heard the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessing be upon him)say: "lsn1 it true that Allaah detests those who converse while they relieve themselves?" (Ahmad) Do not take it there! In order to preserve the name of Allaah and His words from abuse and debasement, you should not take into the toilet, anything that has the remembrance of Allaah on it, unless you have a valid Shareeah excuse. As for the copy of the Quraan, it is without doubt forbidden to take it inside a place that is regularly used as a toilet. However, where there is a fear of it been stolen or debased or in the absence of any alternative except to take it in, then it is deemed permissible by the scholars. Nonetheless, you should make effort to keep Allaahs speech away from dishonour. And Allaah knows best.
This article was culled from the publications of Deen Communication Limited