Toilet Etiquette & Istinja

Whenever the Prophet (ﷺ) went to answer the call of nature, he used to say, "Allah-umma inni a`udhu bika minal khubuthi wal khaba'ith i.e. O Allah, I seek Refuge with You from all offensive and wicked things (evil deeds and evil spirits).

Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "If anyone of you goes to an open space for answering the call of nature he should neither face nor turn his back towards the Qibla; he should either face the east or the west."

Whenever Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) went to answer the call of nature, I along with another boy used to accompany him with a tumbler full of water. (Hisham commented, "So that he might wash his private parts with it.)"

The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Whenever anyone of you makes water he should not hold his penis or clean his private parts with his right hand. (And while drinking) one should not breathe in the drinking utensil ."

Once the Prophet, while passing through one of the graveyards of Medina or Mecca heard the voices of two persons who were being tortured in their graves. The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "These two persons are being tortured not for a major sin (to avoid)." The Prophet (ﷺ) then added, "Yes! (they are being tortured for a major sin). Indeed, one of them never saved himself from being soiled with his urine while the other used to go about with calumnies (to make enmity between friends). The Prophet (ﷺ) then asked for a green leaf of a date-palm tree, broke it into two pieces and put one on each grave. On being asked why he had done so, he replied, "I hope that their torture might be lessened, till these get dried."

This hadith has also been transmitted on the authority of Sa'd b. Ibrahim with this chain of narrators.

None shall enter the Fire (of Hell) who has in his heart the weight of a mustard seed of Iman and none shall enter Paradise who has in his heart the weight of a mustard seed of pride.

Messenger of Allah, what are the two things quite unavoidable? He replied: He who dies without associating anyone with Allah would (necessarily) enter Paradise and he who dies associating anything with Allah would enter the (Fire of) Hell.

Three are the persons with whom Allah would not speak on the Day of Resurrection: the bestower of gift who does not give anything but by laying obligation on him, the seller of goods who sells them by taking false oath and one who hangs low his lower garment.

"I am like a father teaching you. When any one of you goes to Al-Khala' (the toilet), let him not face toward the Qiblah nor turn his back toward it, and let him not clean himself with his right hand." And he used to tell them to use three stones, and he forbade using dung or old bones.

"When any one of you goes to the Gha'it (toilet to defecate), let him take with him three stones and clean himself with them, for that will suffice him."

"When any one of you drinks, let him not breathe into the vessel, and when he goes to the toilet let him not touch his penis with his right hand, nor wipe himself with this right hand."

"I was with the Prophet (ﷺ) and he went to Al Khala' (toilet) and relieved himself, then he said: "O Jarir, bring Tahur (a means of purification)." So I brought him some water and he performed Intinja' with water, and did like this with hand, rubbing it on the ground. Abu 'Abdur-Rahman (An-Nasa'i) said: "This resembles more with what is correct than the (previous) narration of Sharik, and Allah knows best."

When the Apostle of Allaah (sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam) entered the toilet, he used to say (before entering): "O Allaah, I seek refuge in You." This is according to the version of Hammad. 'Abd al-Warith has another version :"I seek refuge in Allaah from male and female devils."

It was said to Salman: Your Prophet teaches you everything, even about excrement. He replied: Yes. He has forbidden us to face the qiblah at the time of easing or urinating, and cleansing with right hand, and cleansing with less than three stones, or cleansing with dung or bone.

The Prophet (ﷺ) used his right hand for getting water for ablution and taking food, and his left hand for his evacuation and for anything repugnant.

The Prophet (ﷺ) said: The following verse was revealed in connection with the people of Quba': "In it are men who love to be purified" (9:108). He (Abu Hurayrah) said: They used to cleanse themselves with water after easing. So the verse was revealed in connection with them.

Allah's Messenger said: "The key to Paradise is Salat, and the key to Salat is Wudu'."

"When the Prophet would exit the toilet he would say: 'Ghufranak.'"

Allah's Messenger said: "Do not perform Istinja, with dung, nor with bones. For indeed it is provisions for your brothers among the Jinn."

Mahmud bin Rabi' remembered that the Prophet spat into a bucket from a well that belonged to them.

The Jews would not sit with a menstruating woman in a house, nor eat with her, nor drink with her. That was mentioned to the Messenger of Allah, then Allah revealed the words: "They ask you concerning menstruation. Say: that is a harmful thing, therefore keep away from women during menses." The Messenger of Allah said: "Do everything except sexual intercourse."

"The Messenger of Allah said: 'Allah does not accept any prayer without purification, and He does not accept any charity from ghulul.'"

"O Allah! To You I have submitted, and in You do I believe, and in You I put my trust, to You do I turn, and for You I argued. O Allah, I seek refuge with You through Your Power; there is none worthy of worship except You Alone; that You safeguard me against going astray. You are the Ever Living, the One Who sustains and protects all that exists; the One Who never dies, whereas human beings and jinn will all die".

[Al- Bukhari and Muslim].

I went in an expedition along with the Prophet (ﷺ) in the direction of Najd. When Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) returned, I also returned with him. Then the mid-day sleep overtook us in a valley full of prickly shrubs. Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) got down and the people scattered around seeking shade under the trees. Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) hang up his sword on the branch of a tree. We were enjoying a sleep when Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) called us, and lo! There was a desert Arab bedouin near him. He (ﷺ) said, "This man brandished my sword over me while I was asleep. I woke up and saw it in his hand unsheathed. He asked: `Who will protect you from me?' I replied: 'Allah' - thrice". He did not punish him and sat down.

[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

In another narration, Jabir (May Allah be pleased with him) said: We accompanied Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) in the campaign of Dhat-ur-Riqa`. We left Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) to take rest under a shady tree. One of the polytheists came to him. The sword of Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) was hanging on a tree. He drew it and said: "Are you afraid of me?'' Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "No". Then he said: "Who will then protect you from me?'' Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) replied, "Allah".

And in a narration of Abu Bakr Al-Isma`ili, the polytheist asked: "Who will protect you from me?'' Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) replied, "Allah.'' As soon as he said this, the sword fell down from his hand and Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) catching the sword, asked him, "Who will protect you from me.'' He said, "Please forgive me.'' Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "On condition you testify that there is none worthy of worship but Allah and that I am His Messenger.'' He said, "No, but I promise you that I shall not fight against you, nor shall I be with those who fight with you". The Prophet (ﷺ) let him go. He then went back to his companions and said: "I have come to you from one of the best of mankind".

When Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and I were in the cave of Thaur and I saw the feet of the polytheists who were above us at the mouth of the cave (on the eve of the Emigration), I submitted: "O Messenger of Allah! If one of them were to look down below his feet, he would see us". He (ﷺ) said, "O Abu Bakr! What do you think of two whose third is Allah".

[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

Once I performed the 'Asr prayer in Al-Madinah behind the Prophet (ﷺ). He (ﷺ) got up quickly after finishing the prayer with Taslim, and stepping over the people, went to one of the rooms of his wives. The people were startled at his haste, and when he came out and saw their astonishment at his urgency he said, "I recalled that there was left with me some gold which was meant for charity; I did not like to keep it any longer, so I gave orders that it should be distributed".

[Al-Bukhari].

In another narration, Messenger of Allah said, "I had left some gold for Sadaqah in the house, and did not wish to keep it overnight".