Top 11 Easy Ways to Use a Western Toilet in Islam
10/05/2020
Toilets and bathrooms have evolved as an essential part of human life. Although most people in the developed world take toilets for granted, thousands of years ago relieving your oneself was a challenge for many people in the world. Using a western toilet is not at all haram and is hygienic and more modern than the traditional squatting pan style one. Western toilets evolved with the invention of the toilet seat and the less watery method of using toilet paper. The argument against the western toilet has been raging in the Muslim world for quite some time and most of the criticisms are due to cultural differences or personal tastes and mostly has nothing to do with Islam. In this article I will inshaAllah explain eleven easy ways for a Muslim to use the western toilet so that it won't be a hindrance for him/her.
1. Saying “Allahumma innee" When Entering the Toilet
It is Sunnah to say,
"Allahumma innee A’oodhu bika min al-khubthi wal-khabaaith (O Allah, I seek refuge with you from male and female devils)" when entering the toilet because it will be a protection from the male and female Jinns.
Anas bin Malik (rali) said:
"When the Prophet would enter the toilet 'He said: "O Allah! Indeed I seek refuge in You from Al-Khubith and Al- Khabaaith."(Allahumma innee A’oodhu bika min al-khubthi wal-khabaaith)
(Tirmidhi-graded hasan sahih by imam Tirmidhi)
Anas bin Malik (rali) reported:
"When the Apostle of Allaah (sal) entered the toilet, he used to say (before entering): "O Allaah, I seek refuge in Thee." This is according to the version of Hammad. 'Abd al-Warith has another version :"I seek refuge in Allah from male and female devils.(Allahumma innee A’oodhu bika min al-khubthi wal-khabaaith)"
(Abu Dawud-graded sahih by Albani)
Zayd ibn Arqam (rali) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “These toilets are haunted (inhabited by devils), so when anyone of you goes to the toilet let him say, ‘A’oodhu Billaahi min al-khubthi wa’l-khabaa’ith (I seek refuge Allah from the male and female devils).”
(Abu Dawud-graded sahih by Albani)
Ali (rali) said,
“A screen will be placed between the eyes of the jinn and the ‘awrah of the sons of Adam when one of them enters the toilet, if he says ‘Bismillāh (in the name of Allaah).” (Classed as saheeh by al-Albani in Saheeh al-Tirmidhi, 496)
2. Using the Right Hand
Some people think that you cannot at all use your right hand on anything when in the toilet and this is not true. It is only forbidden to use your right hand when washing after defecating or touching the penis unless if it us fir a necessity.
Narrated Abu Qatadah (rali):
"Allah's Messenger (sal) said, "When you drink (water), do not breathe in the vessel; and when you urinate, do not touch your penis with your right hand. And when you cleanse yourself after defecation, do not use your right hand."
(Bukhari)
Abu Qatadah reported it from his father that the Messenger of Allah (sal) said:
"When anyone amongst you enters the privy he should not touch his penis with his right hand"
(Muslim)
Narrated Abu Qatadah(rali):
"The Prophet (sal) said: When any one of you urinates, he must not touch his penis with his right hand, and when he goes to relieve himself he must not wipe himself with his right hand (in the privy), and when he drinks, he must not drink in one breath."
(Abu Dawud-graded sahih by Albani)
This ruling only applies to touching the penis penis and not the vagina. The right hand can be used on these instances if there is a necessity.
3. Urinating While Standing is Halal
Urinating while standing is completely halal in Islam. There are people who try to discourage themselves and others from using a western toilet by arguing that the urinals are all made to facilitate standing and not squatting. This not true because a person who wants to urinate while standing can use the cubicle.
Narrated by Hudhaifa(rali):
"I saw Allah's Messenger (sal) coming (or the Prophet (sal) came) to the dumps of some people and urinated there while standing"
(Bukhari)
Narrated Hudhaifa(rali):
"Once the Prophet (sal) went to the dumps of some people and passed urine while standing. He then asked for water and so I brought it to him and he performed ablution."
(Bukhari)
Shu’ba narrated from 'Asim from Abu Wa'il from Mughirah bin Shu’ba that the prophet (sal) The Messenger of Allah came to the garbage dump of some people and urinated while standing up
(Ibn Majah-graded sahih by Imam ibn Majah)
You can read my full article on why urinating while standing is halal by clicking here https://cjislam.weebly.com/5-powerful-hadiths-why-urinating-while-standing-is-halal.html
4. Urinating While Squatting
Both urinating while standing as well as squatting is halal in Islam and there shouldn't be any argument on this issue.
Aisha (rali narrated that she saw the prophet (sal) urinating while squatting.
(Tirmidhi-graded sahih by Albani)
Both urinating while squatting and standing are a sunnah of the prophet(sal) and any of these ways can by use according to your convenience.
5. Using Water is not a Must
Using water is not a must when washing your excrement or urine.
Aba Qatadah reported (rali),
"The Messenger of Allah (sal) forbade (us) to breathe into the venel, to touch the penis with the right hand and to wipe after relieving with right hand."
(Muslim)
In another hadith Narrated by Anas bin Malik(rali),
" A Bedouin came and urinated in one corner of the mosque and the people shouted at him, but Allah’s Messenger (sal) stopped them, and when he finished urinating, the Prophet (sal) ordered for a bucket of water which was spilt over it"
(Bukhari and Muslim)
In this hadith a beduoin urinated and it is apparent that no water was used by him and the prophet(sal) never told him to was his privates with urine. If there is water available then it is better to use water. The prophet (sal)used water
Narrated Anas bin Malik(rali):
"Whenever Allah's Messenger (sal) 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.)"
(Bukhari)
Because water cleans thoroughly it is a good source to clean yourself. The person who was punished as mentioned by the prophet (sal) in the grave was the person who never cared to clean himself of the urine drops. Jabir (rali) narrated; the prophet (sal) said that the reason why the person was punished in the grave by saying that he was not careful to clean himself from urine drops as narrated by Bukhari and Muslim. The urine should be cleaned either by water or any other means available in the western toilet such as toilet paper. There is a huge misunderstanding among Muslims that it is a must to use water to clean your urine or faeces. This is based on cultural bias rather than sound evidence from hadiths.
6. Using Toilet Paper
There is nothing wrong in using toilet paper to clean yourself after urination or defecation. The western toilet in the western world generally contains toilet paper for cleaning. Generally anything clean can be used clean yourself.
Salman (rali) said that (one among) the polytheists remarked:
"I see that your friend even teaches you about the excrement. He replied; yes, he has in fact forbidden us that anyone amongst us should cleanse himself with his right hand, or face the Qibla. He has forbidden the use of dung or bone for it, and he has also instructed us not to use less than three pebbles (for this purpose)."
(Muslim)
The dung mentioned above is the dung of animals which are impure. Dung of cows or any other animal which is pure is not haram because there is no evidence suggesting that it is haram. In the hadith if sahih Bukhari and Muslim the prophet ordered the people of the tribe if Ukl drink camel urine.
7. Facing the Qibla in the Toilet Facing the Qibla while urinating or defecating is not haram while using a toilet
Narrated Jabir ibn Abdullah (rali):
"The Prophet of Allah (sal) forbade us to face the Qibla at the time of making water. Then I saw him facing it (Qibla) urinating or easing himself one year before his death"
(Abu Dawud-graded sahih by Albani)
Abdullah bin Umar said(rali):
"I went up to the roof of the house of my sister Hafsa and saw the Messenger of Allah (sal) relieving himself facing Syria. With his back to the Qibla."
(Sahih Muslim)
8 Eating or Drinking in the Toilet
People in the west use the toilet sometimes to eat and drink. Generally this practice is not healthy has the toilet is a place of germs in Islam there is no clear evidence prohibiting eating or drinking. Fir something to be clearly haram there needs to be clear texts to back it. It is halal to eat and drink in the toilet unless something harmful could happen to as a result of the germs entering the food. Abu Sa’id al-Khudri (rali) reported,
“Do not cause harm or return harm. Whoever harms others, Allah will harm him. Whoever is harsh with others, Allah will be harsh with him.”
(Al Sunan al Kubra-graded sahih by Albani)
9 Talking in the Toilet
Talking in the toilet is not haram in Islam. The prophet (sal) used to personally dislike to return the salutation.
Narrated by Muhajir ibn Qunfudh (rali),
"Muhajir came to the Prophet (sal) while he was urinating. He saluted him. The Prophet (sal) did not return the salutation to him until he performed ablution. He then apologised to him, saying: I disliked remembering Allah except in the state of purification."
(Abu Dawud-graded sahih by Albani)
10. Washing Three Times
It is a sunnah to wash in odd numbers. Aisha (rali) narrated,
"The prophet (sal) used to wash his posterior three times. Ibn Umar said: We did this too and found it to be healing and cleansing."
(Ibn Majah-authenticated in sahih al jaami-4993)
Abu Hurayrah (rali) reported that the Prophet (sal) said:" When anyone of you cleans himself (with stones or similar material) let him use an odd number"
(Ahmad; classed as hasan in Saheeh al-Jaami-375)
11. Dua When Exiting the Toilet
It us a sunnah to say "Ghufranaka"
Narrated ‘Aisha (rali):
When the Prophet (sal) came out of the privy, he used to say, “Ghufranaka (O Allah! Grant me your forgiveness)”
(Bulugh al Maram-graded sahih by Abu Hatim and Imam Hakim)
C.J Ahmed
Toilets and bathrooms have evolved as an essential part of human life. Although most people in the developed world take toilets for granted, thousands of years ago relieving your oneself was a challenge for many people in the world. Using a western toilet is not at all haram and is hygienic and more modern than the traditional squatting pan style one. Western toilets evolved with the invention of the toilet seat and the less watery method of using toilet paper. The argument against the western toilet has been raging in the Muslim world for quite some time and most of the criticisms are due to cultural differences or personal tastes and mostly has nothing to do with Islam. In this article I will inshaAllah explain eleven easy ways for a Muslim to use the western toilet so that it won't be a hindrance for him/her.
1. Saying “Allahumma innee" When Entering the Toilet
It is Sunnah to say,
"Allahumma innee A’oodhu bika min al-khubthi wal-khabaaith (O Allah, I seek refuge with you from male and female devils)" when entering the toilet because it will be a protection from the male and female Jinns.
Anas bin Malik (rali) said:
"When the Prophet would enter the toilet 'He said: "O Allah! Indeed I seek refuge in You from Al-Khubith and Al- Khabaaith."(Allahumma innee A’oodhu bika min al-khubthi wal-khabaaith)
(Tirmidhi-graded hasan sahih by imam Tirmidhi)
Anas bin Malik (rali) reported:
"When the Apostle of Allaah (sal) entered the toilet, he used to say (before entering): "O Allaah, I seek refuge in Thee." This is according to the version of Hammad. 'Abd al-Warith has another version :"I seek refuge in Allah from male and female devils.(Allahumma innee A’oodhu bika min al-khubthi wal-khabaaith)"
(Abu Dawud-graded sahih by Albani)
Zayd ibn Arqam (rali) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “These toilets are haunted (inhabited by devils), so when anyone of you goes to the toilet let him say, ‘A’oodhu Billaahi min al-khubthi wa’l-khabaa’ith (I seek refuge Allah from the male and female devils).”
(Abu Dawud-graded sahih by Albani)
Ali (rali) said,
“A screen will be placed between the eyes of the jinn and the ‘awrah of the sons of Adam when one of them enters the toilet, if he says ‘Bismillāh (in the name of Allaah).” (Classed as saheeh by al-Albani in Saheeh al-Tirmidhi, 496)
2. Using the Right Hand
Some people think that you cannot at all use your right hand on anything when in the toilet and this is not true. It is only forbidden to use your right hand when washing after defecating or touching the penis unless if it us fir a necessity.
Narrated Abu Qatadah (rali):
"Allah's Messenger (sal) said, "When you drink (water), do not breathe in the vessel; and when you urinate, do not touch your penis with your right hand. And when you cleanse yourself after defecation, do not use your right hand."
(Bukhari)
Abu Qatadah reported it from his father that the Messenger of Allah (sal) said:
"When anyone amongst you enters the privy he should not touch his penis with his right hand"
(Muslim)
Narrated Abu Qatadah(rali):
"The Prophet (sal) said: When any one of you urinates, he must not touch his penis with his right hand, and when he goes to relieve himself he must not wipe himself with his right hand (in the privy), and when he drinks, he must not drink in one breath."
(Abu Dawud-graded sahih by Albani)
This ruling only applies to touching the penis penis and not the vagina. The right hand can be used on these instances if there is a necessity.
3. Urinating While Standing is Halal
Urinating while standing is completely halal in Islam. There are people who try to discourage themselves and others from using a western toilet by arguing that the urinals are all made to facilitate standing and not squatting. This not true because a person who wants to urinate while standing can use the cubicle.
Narrated by Hudhaifa(rali):
"I saw Allah's Messenger (sal) coming (or the Prophet (sal) came) to the dumps of some people and urinated there while standing"
(Bukhari)
Narrated Hudhaifa(rali):
"Once the Prophet (sal) went to the dumps of some people and passed urine while standing. He then asked for water and so I brought it to him and he performed ablution."
(Bukhari)
Shu’ba narrated from 'Asim from Abu Wa'il from Mughirah bin Shu’ba that the prophet (sal) The Messenger of Allah came to the garbage dump of some people and urinated while standing up
(Ibn Majah-graded sahih by Imam ibn Majah)
You can read my full article on why urinating while standing is halal by clicking here https://cjislam.weebly.com/5-powerful-hadiths-why-urinating-while-standing-is-halal.html
4. Urinating While Squatting
Both urinating while standing as well as squatting is halal in Islam and there shouldn't be any argument on this issue.
Aisha (rali narrated that she saw the prophet (sal) urinating while squatting.
(Tirmidhi-graded sahih by Albani)
Both urinating while squatting and standing are a sunnah of the prophet(sal) and any of these ways can by use according to your convenience.
5. Using Water is not a Must
Using water is not a must when washing your excrement or urine.
Aba Qatadah reported (rali),
"The Messenger of Allah (sal) forbade (us) to breathe into the venel, to touch the penis with the right hand and to wipe after relieving with right hand."
(Muslim)
In another hadith Narrated by Anas bin Malik(rali),
" A Bedouin came and urinated in one corner of the mosque and the people shouted at him, but Allah’s Messenger (sal) stopped them, and when he finished urinating, the Prophet (sal) ordered for a bucket of water which was spilt over it"
(Bukhari and Muslim)
In this hadith a beduoin urinated and it is apparent that no water was used by him and the prophet(sal) never told him to was his privates with urine. If there is water available then it is better to use water. The prophet (sal)used water
Narrated Anas bin Malik(rali):
"Whenever Allah's Messenger (sal) 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.)"
(Bukhari)
Because water cleans thoroughly it is a good source to clean yourself. The person who was punished as mentioned by the prophet (sal) in the grave was the person who never cared to clean himself of the urine drops. Jabir (rali) narrated; the prophet (sal) said that the reason why the person was punished in the grave by saying that he was not careful to clean himself from urine drops as narrated by Bukhari and Muslim. The urine should be cleaned either by water or any other means available in the western toilet such as toilet paper. There is a huge misunderstanding among Muslims that it is a must to use water to clean your urine or faeces. This is based on cultural bias rather than sound evidence from hadiths.
6. Using Toilet Paper
There is nothing wrong in using toilet paper to clean yourself after urination or defecation. The western toilet in the western world generally contains toilet paper for cleaning. Generally anything clean can be used clean yourself.
Salman (rali) said that (one among) the polytheists remarked:
"I see that your friend even teaches you about the excrement. He replied; yes, he has in fact forbidden us that anyone amongst us should cleanse himself with his right hand, or face the Qibla. He has forbidden the use of dung or bone for it, and he has also instructed us not to use less than three pebbles (for this purpose)."
(Muslim)
The dung mentioned above is the dung of animals which are impure. Dung of cows or any other animal which is pure is not haram because there is no evidence suggesting that it is haram. In the hadith if sahih Bukhari and Muslim the prophet ordered the people of the tribe if Ukl drink camel urine.
7. Facing the Qibla in the Toilet Facing the Qibla while urinating or defecating is not haram while using a toilet
Narrated Jabir ibn Abdullah (rali):
"The Prophet of Allah (sal) forbade us to face the Qibla at the time of making water. Then I saw him facing it (Qibla) urinating or easing himself one year before his death"
(Abu Dawud-graded sahih by Albani)
Abdullah bin Umar said(rali):
"I went up to the roof of the house of my sister Hafsa and saw the Messenger of Allah (sal) relieving himself facing Syria. With his back to the Qibla."
(Sahih Muslim)
8 Eating or Drinking in the Toilet
People in the west use the toilet sometimes to eat and drink. Generally this practice is not healthy has the toilet is a place of germs in Islam there is no clear evidence prohibiting eating or drinking. Fir something to be clearly haram there needs to be clear texts to back it. It is halal to eat and drink in the toilet unless something harmful could happen to as a result of the germs entering the food. Abu Sa’id al-Khudri (rali) reported,
“Do not cause harm or return harm. Whoever harms others, Allah will harm him. Whoever is harsh with others, Allah will be harsh with him.”
(Al Sunan al Kubra-graded sahih by Albani)
9 Talking in the Toilet
Talking in the toilet is not haram in Islam. The prophet (sal) used to personally dislike to return the salutation.
Narrated by Muhajir ibn Qunfudh (rali),
"Muhajir came to the Prophet (sal) while he was urinating. He saluted him. The Prophet (sal) did not return the salutation to him until he performed ablution. He then apologised to him, saying: I disliked remembering Allah except in the state of purification."
(Abu Dawud-graded sahih by Albani)
10. Washing Three Times
It is a sunnah to wash in odd numbers. Aisha (rali) narrated,
"The prophet (sal) used to wash his posterior three times. Ibn Umar said: We did this too and found it to be healing and cleansing."
(Ibn Majah-authenticated in sahih al jaami-4993)
Abu Hurayrah (rali) reported that the Prophet (sal) said:" When anyone of you cleans himself (with stones or similar material) let him use an odd number"
(Ahmad; classed as hasan in Saheeh al-Jaami-375)
11. Dua When Exiting the Toilet
It us a sunnah to say "Ghufranaka"
Narrated ‘Aisha (rali):
When the Prophet (sal) came out of the privy, he used to say, “Ghufranaka (O Allah! Grant me your forgiveness)”
(Bulugh al Maram-graded sahih by Abu Hatim and Imam Hakim)
C.J Ahmed