7 Manners of Going to the Bathroom in Islam and Its Verses

One of the manners that a Muslim must know is the manner of going to the bathroom. For some people, the behavior when going to the bathroom or when in the bathroom may not be important, however in Islam, every deed has its impacts and rules. The following are 7 manners of going to the bathroom in Islam and its verses that are often forgotten:

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.