Islamic Toilet Etiquette: Facing the Qiblah, Dua Before Entering and Returnin
Islamic Toilet Etiquette Dhua before entering the Toilet Turning towards the Qiblah& Salam Is it Sunnah to turn towards or away from the Qiblah? Some Muslims find it very difficult and a sensitive issue to turn towards or away from the Qiblah. This narration will tell us how to turn to the Qiblah and turn away from the Qiblah.
Abdullah ibn Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) narrated: People said to Umar ibn al-Khattab, When you attend to your needs do you face the Qiblah?'
So he delayed answering, until he mentioned that he had heard God's Messenger (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) say: "You may face the Qiblah when urinating but you should turn away from it when defecating." I saw God's Messenger facing the Qiblah while sitting on two bricks in the mosque. [Sahih Bukhari, Chapter 4: Performing Wudu] To understand this, there is a narration where Prophet Muhammad and his companions faced the Qiblah, and how scholars interpret turning away from the Qiblah in different circumstances (sitting or lying down), can teach us a lot.
Why should Muslims learn from this hadith? The hadith clearly explains how we should face or turn away from the Qiblah in different circumstances. It also explains how scholars interpret these different circumstances of when to face or turn away from the Qiblah. We learn from this hadith how Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) responds in different situations, and how we should do too.
Salams Dua to Say Before Entering the Toilet A part of good manners and etiquettes of the toilet, this du'a is important to learn and memorize as it is also a form of worship. Whatever you learn that is good and right, we can implement it in our lives and do it daily.
Anas (May Allah be pleased with him) said: When the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) would pass by Khubuth al-Khabaith (the male and female devils) when going to the toilet he would seek Allah's refuge from them.
Why should Muslims say this du'a?
This du'a should be said to seek Allah's protection, and is easy to say and memorize. We can recite this du'a constantly.
It is good to memorize both the arabic du'a and the transliterations with the translation and meaning of the words for an easier understanding.
Return salam after fulfilling your needs is a basic good manner, however, this narration will teach us about our accountability in some situations. While Salam is a sign of respect to Muslims, it is not necessary to reply to Salaam while attending to one's needs. After attending to one's needs one should reply to the S Allah is one six times.
Ibn Umar (Allah be pleased with him) reports: Once a man greeted Rasul-Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) while he was urinating but he didn't say to him: 'As Salam alaikum'. [Sahih Muslim, Chapter 3: Menstruation]
Why should Muslims not respond to the salam?
The hadith describes how to deal with this issue practically, and shows that replying to salam is not necessary when attending to natural needs. As Muslims we should practice the etiquettes of the toilet, including replying to salam when appropriate.
Prophet Muhammad responded with wisdom.
In Conclusion, Etiquettes when going to the toilet are part of Islamic manners, examples of a good Muslim and sunnah of Prophet Muhammad. We discussed 3 points from this hadith, which was facing or turning away from the Qiblah, saying a dua when entering the toilet and not responding to salam when attending to oneself. We need to learn and practice this as part of our Islam and Islamic manners, and teach our children!