Islamic toilet etiquette
Encyclopedia
The Islam
ic faith has particular rules regarding personal hygiene when going to the toilet
. This code is known as Qadaa' al-Haajah.
Issues of chirality
, such as whether one uses the left or right hand and foot to step into or out of toilet areas, are derived from hadith
sources. The only issue which the Qur'an
mentions is the one of washing one's hands especially following going to the toilet which is mentioned in verse 5:6.
While on the toilet, one must remain silent. Talking, answering greetings or greeting others is strongly discouraged. When defecating together, two men cannot converse, nor look at each other's genitals, and especially not handle each other's genitals. A man should not touch his genitals with the right hand.
The Islamic prophet
Muhammad
specified that one should use an odd number of stones (preferably three) to cleanse the anal
orifice after defecation
and then proceed to a different location to wash it with water. Use of toilet paper
in place of stones is now acceptable, but washing with water is still needed for ritual purity. When leaving the toilet, one is advised to leave with the right foot, and also say a prayer – "Praise be to Allah who relieved me of the filth and gave me relief." This is similar in concept to Asher yatzar
, the prayers said by orthodox Jews when leaving the toilet in which they thank God for the openings used to defecate/urinate, and exact ways of proceeding and accompanying prayers are also specified in traditional Zoroastrianism. It is also reported in the Hadith of Bukhari that whenever Muhammad went to the toilet, he said "In the name of Allah
, O Allah! I seek refuge with You from all offensive and wicked things" (alternate translation: "from evil deeds and evil spirits").
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
ic faith has particular rules regarding personal hygiene when going to the toilet
Toilet
A toilet is a sanitation fixture used primarily for the disposal of human excrement, often found in a small room referred to as a toilet/bathroom/lavatory...
. This code is known as Qadaa' al-Haajah.
Issues of chirality
Chirality
Chirality is a property of asymmetry important in several branches of science. It may refer to:* Chirality , a property of molecules having a non-superimposable mirror image...
, such as whether one uses the left or right hand and foot to step into or out of toilet areas, are derived from hadith
Hadith
The term Hadīth is used to denote a saying or an act or tacit approval or criticism ascribed either validly or invalidly to the Islamic prophet Muhammad....
sources. The only issue which the Qur'an
Qur'an
The Quran , also transliterated Qur'an, Koran, Alcoran, Qur’ān, Coran, Kuran, and al-Qur’ān, is the central religious text of Islam, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God . It is regarded widely as the finest piece of literature in the Arabic language...
mentions is the one of washing one's hands especially following going to the toilet which is mentioned in verse 5:6.
Rules
A Muslim must first find an acceptable place away from standing water, or people's pathways or shade. They are advised that it is better to enter the area with the left foot, facing away from the Qiblah.While on the toilet, one must remain silent. Talking, answering greetings or greeting others is strongly discouraged. When defecating together, two men cannot converse, nor look at each other's genitals, and especially not handle each other's genitals. A man should not touch his genitals with the right hand.
The Islamic prophet
Prophets of Islam
Muslims identify the Prophets of Islam as those humans chosen by God and given revelation to deliver to mankind. Muslims believe that every prophet was given a belief to worship God and their respective followers believed it as well...
Muhammad
Muhammad
Muhammad |ligature]] at U+FDF4 ;Arabic pronunciation varies regionally; the first vowel ranges from ~~; the second and the last vowel: ~~~. There are dialects which have no stress. In Egypt, it is pronounced not in religious contexts...
specified that one should use an odd number of stones (preferably three) to cleanse the anal
Anal cleansing
Anal cleansing is the hygienic practice of cleaning the anus after defecation.The anus and buttocks may be cleansed with toilet paper or similar paper products, especially in many Western countries. Elsewhere, water may be used...
orifice after defecation
Defecation
Defecation is the final act of digestion by which organisms eliminate solid, semisolid or liquid waste material from the digestive tract via the anus. Waves of muscular contraction known as peristalsis in the walls of the colon move fecal matter through the digestive tract towards the rectum...
and then proceed to a different location to wash it with water. Use of toilet paper
Toilet paper
Toilet paper is a soft paper product used to maintain personal hygiene after human defecation or urination. However, it can also be used for other purposes such as blowing one's nose when one has a cold or absorbing common spills around the house, although paper towels are more used for the latter...
in place of stones is now acceptable, but washing with water is still needed for ritual purity. When leaving the toilet, one is advised to leave with the right foot, and also say a prayer – "Praise be to Allah who relieved me of the filth and gave me relief." This is similar in concept to Asher yatzar
Asher Yatzar
Asher yatzar is a blessing in Judaism. It is traditionally recited after engaging in an act of excretion, but is also included in many Jewish prayer books as a part of daily prayer prior to Birkat HaShachar....
, the prayers said by orthodox Jews when leaving the toilet in which they thank God for the openings used to defecate/urinate, and exact ways of proceeding and accompanying prayers are also specified in traditional Zoroastrianism. It is also reported in the Hadith of Bukhari that whenever Muhammad went to the toilet, he said "In the name of Allah
Allah
Allah is a word for God used in the context of Islam. In Arabic, the word means simply "God". It is used primarily by Muslims and Bahá'ís, and often, albeit not exclusively, used by Arabic-speaking Eastern Catholic Christians, Maltese Roman Catholics, Eastern Orthodox Christians, Mizrahi Jews and...
, O Allah! I seek refuge with You from all offensive and wicked things" (alternate translation: "from evil deeds and evil spirits").
External links
- Islamic toilet etiquette in the hadith and fiqh (Islamic jurisprudence)