Sunnats and Aadaab of Relieving Oneself – Part 1

1. Relieve yourself in a secluded place which is protected from the gazes of people.

عن جابر بن عبد الله رضي الله عنهما قال إن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم كان إذا أراد البراز انطلق حتى لا يراه أحد (سنن أبي داود، الرقم: 2)

Hazrat Jaabir (radhiyallahu anhu) reports, “When Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) intended to relieve himself, he would go to a place which was protected from the gazes of people.”

2. Do not relieve yourself in such a place where you will cause inconvenience to others e.g. on a pathway or a place where people sit.

عن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال اتقوا اللعانين قالوا وما اللعانان يا رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال الذي يتخلى فى طريق الناس أو في ظلهم (صحيح مسلم، الرقم: 269)

Hazrat Abu Hurairah (radhiyallahu anhu) mentions that Hazrat Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said, “Refrain from the two great causes of earning curses of people.” The Sahaabah (radhiyallahu anhum) asked, “What are the two great causes of earning curses, O Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam)?” Hazrat Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) replied, “Relieving oneself on the pathways or in places where people take shade.”

3. If you are forced to relieve yourself in an open field or place, then look for a suitable place where you will not be seen and the ground is soft so that the urine does not splash onto you.

عن أبي موسى رضي الله عنه قال إني كنت مع رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم … ثم قال إذا أراد أحدكم أن يبول فليرتد لبوله موضعا (سنن أبي داود، الرقم: 3)

Hazrat Abu Moosa (radhiyallahu anhu) reports, “I was with Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam)… then Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said, ‘When you intend relieving yourself, search for a suitable place to do so (i.e. when urinating in the open, then look for such a place where you will be concealed from the gazes of people, and the ground is such that it will absorb the urine and it will not cause the urine to splash onto you).’”

4. Cover your head and feet before entering the toilet.

عن حبيب بن صالح رحمه الله قال كان رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم إذا دخل الخلاء لبس حذاءه وغطى رأسه (السنن الكبرى للبيهقي، الرقم: 465)

Hazrat Habeeb bin Saalih (rahimahullah) reports that Hazrat Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) would wear his shoes and cover his mubaarak head when entering the toilet.

5. Before entering the toilet, recite bismillah and the following dua:

بِسْمِ اللهِ اَللّٰهُمَّ إِنِّيْ أَعُوْذُ بِكَ مِنَ الْخُبُثِ وَالْخَبَائِثْ

In the name of Allah Ta’ala. O Allah, I seek your protection from the male and female jinn (shayaateen).

Through reciting bismillah, one’s private parts will be veiled from the shayaateen and one will be saved from the harm of the shayaateen.

عن علي رضي الله عنه أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال ستر ما بين أعين الجن وعورات بني آدم إذا دخل أحدهم الخلاء أن يقول بسم الله (سنن الترمذي، الرقم: 606)

Hazrat Ali (radhiyallahu anhu) reports that Hazrat Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said, “The veil between the eyes of the jinn and the private parts of a person is the recitation of bismillah when entering the toilet (bismillah prevents the jinn from staring at one’s private parts or causing harm).”

One may also recite the following dua:

اَللّٰهُمَّ إِنِّيْ أَعُوْذُ بِكَ مِنَ الرِّجْسِ النَّجِسِ الْخَبِيْثِ الْمُخْبِثِ الشَّيْطَانِ الرَّجِيْم

O Allah Ta’ala, I seek refuge in You from the filthy and impure, the one who is evil and leads people towards evil, the accursed Shaitaan.

6. Before entering the toilet, remove any item upon which the name of Allah Ta’ala, Hazrat Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) or any aayat of the Quraan Majeed is written e.g. a ring or chain.

عن أنس رضي الله عنه قال كان النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم إذا دخل الخلاء نزع خاتمه (سنن الترمذي، الرقم: 1746)

Hazrat Anas (radhiyallahu anhu) reports that Hazrat Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) would remove his ring when he entered the toilet.