Istinja: Restroom Etiquettes, Sunnahs, and Disliked Places

Read the bilingual lesson for Istinja: Restroom Etiquettes, Sunnahs, and Disliked Places and test your understanding with a focused quiz.

Lesson

1. Restroom Entrance and Supplication

• Manner of Entrance: It is Sunnah to enter the restroom (al-Khalā') by stepping in with the left foot (al-Yusrā) first. • The Sunnah Supplication: Before stepping inside, recite: "Bismillah, Allahumma inni a'udhu bika mina al-khubuthi wa al-khaba'ith" (In the name of Allah, O Allah! I seek refuge in You from male and female devils). • Juristic Background: Since waste and private places are inhabited by devils, the Sunnah establishes seeking Divine protection prior to entering.

2. Sitting Posture and Private Parts Exposure

• Sitting Posture: It is Sunnah to sit leaning and shifting one's weight toward the left leg (al-Yasār) to facilitate natural easing. • Exposing Private Parts: It is highly disliked to expose one's private parts while standing or while far from the ground. Worshippers must only raise their garments when they are close to the ground (dunūwwihi). • Reasoning: This maintains standard modesty, preventing the exposure of private parts to surrounding spaces or winds without necessity.

3. Facing or Turning One's Back to the Qiblah

Source text وَيُكْرَهُ تَحْرِيمًا اسْتِقْبَالُ الْقِبْلَةِ وَاسْتِدْبَارُهَا وَلَوْ فِي الْبُنْيَانِ • Respecting the Qiblah: Facing (istiqbāl) or turning one's back (istidbār) to the Qiblah (the Ka'bah) while relieving oneself is Makruh Tahrimi (prohibitively disliked and sinful). • Rulings Inside Buildings: The authenticated and preferred Hanafi verdict establishes that this prohibition applies equally in open deserts and inside closed buildings/restrooms (wa law fī al-bunyān). • Exception: If a person sits facing the Qiblah out of forgetfulness, they must immediately turn away upon remembering to show reverence to the Ka'bah.

4. Disliked Orientations (Sun, Moon, and Wind)

Source text وَيُكْرَهُ اسْتِقْبَالُ عَيْنِ الشَّمْسِ وَالْقَمَرِ وَمَهَبِّ الرِّيحِ • Sun and Moon: It is legally disliked (Makruh) to directly face the rising or setting sun, or the visible moon, while relieving oneself. • Wind Direction (Mahabb al-Rīh): Urinating directly into the direction from which the wind blows is disliked. The wind pressure will blow urine droplets back onto the worshipper's body and clothes, causing contamination. • Preserving Purity: The Shariah aims to keep the believer completely free from microscopic splatters and filth.

5. Prohibited Restroom Locations (Water, Shade, Paths)

Source text وَيُكْرَهُ أَنْ يَبُولَ أَوْ يَتَغَوَّطَ فِي الْمَاءِ، وَالظِّلِّ، وَالطَّرِيقِ، وَتَحْتَ شَجَرَةٍ مُثْمِرَةٍ، وَالْجُحْرِ • Forbidden Locations: Relieving oneself in the following locations is highly disliked (Makruh): ◦ In Water (fī al-mā'): Whether stagnant or flowing, because it contaminates and renders it unusable. ◦ In the Shade (al-Zill): Where people normally sit or rest. ◦ On Pathways (al-Tarīq): Where people walk. ◦ Under Fruitful Trees (tahta shajarah muthmirah): To prevent falling fruits from getting contaminated by filth. ◦ Inside Holes (al-Juhr): Because holes contain nesting creatures (such as snakes or scorpions) which may cause bodily harm.

6. Restroom Exiting Supplication and Manners

• No worldly speaking: It is disliked to speak with anyone while relieving oneself, unless under absolute necessity or danger. • Exiting Manner: Step out of the restroom with the right foot (al-Yumnā) first. • Sunnah Exiting Supplication: Once outside, recite: "Alhamdulillah-illadhi adh-haba 'anni al-adha wa 'afani" (Praise be to Allah who removed harm from me and granted me ease).

Practice questions

Question 1

What is the ruling in the Hanafi school regarding facing or turning one's back to the Qiblah while inside a closed restroom building?

  • It is completely permissible because there are walls separating the person from the Ka'bah.
  • It is Makruh Tahrimi (prohibitively disliked), just like in an open desert.
  • It is highly recommended.
  • It is only disliked for women, not for men.

Question 2

When entering the restroom, a worshipper must step in with their right foot first.

Question 3

Why is it disliked to urinate in the direction of the wind (Mahabb al-Rīh)?

  • Because the wind carries the smell of urine to other places.
  • Because the wind pressure blows the urine droplets back onto the body and clothes.
  • Because it makes the wind dusty.
  • Because the sun will not be visible.

Question 4

It is permissible to expose one's private parts while standing tall and far from the toilet.

Question 5

Which of the following is NOT one of the disliked locations for urinating listed in the text?

  • Stagnant water
  • Paths walked by people
  • Under a fruitful tree
  • Inside a private bathroom stall

Question 6

Speaking or talking while relieving oneself is disliked unless done out of necessity or to warn of danger.

Question 7

Match the restroom actions with their correct Sunnah or disliked rulings:

Question 8

What is the Sunnah supplication recited upon exiting the restroom?

  • Alhamdulillah-illadhi khalaqani
  • Alhamdulillah-illadhi adh-haba 'anni al-adha wa 'afani
  • Astaghfirullah al-Azheem
  • Bismillahi wa-l-salatu 'ala rasulillah

Open the interactive quiz