Manners related to answering the call of nature

Manners related to answering the call of nature

When a Muslim wants to answer the call of nature there are certain manners one must observe.

1- One should enter the washroom with his left foot first. It is praiseworthy for one to say: "A'oodthubillah me'nal Khubthee wal-Khabaa'ith" (I begin with the name of Allah; I seek refuge with Allah from the male and female devils).

2- One should exit it with his right foot and say: "Ghufraanak" (I seek the forgiveness of Allah).

When one needs to answer the call of nature in an open area, he should conceal himself from people. He should not face the direction of the Qiblah, nor give it his back. He should safeguard himself, so that no urine splatters on him.

It is unlawful for one to relieve himself on footpaths or in a place where people seek shade.

3- One should not carry anything with the name of Allah written on it, unless he fears that he may lose it.

4- One should not urinate while standing up. A'ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, said: "Whoever tells you that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, urinated while standing up do not believe him; he only urinated while he was sitting" (Tirmidthi).

5- One should clean himself from impurities after answering the call of nature. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: «Safeguard yourselves from the splattering of urine, for most of those being punished in the graves are being punished on account of this».

6- One should not cleanse himself with his right hand. This is reported in the Hadeeth of Abdurrahman ibn Zaid, in which he said that it was said to Salman aI-Farsi, may Allah be pleased with him: "Your Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, taught you everything, even how to relieve yourselves! Salman, may Allah be pleased with him, answered, 'Of course! He forbade us to face the Qiblah when answering the call of nature (i.e. when defecating or urinating), to cleanse ourselves using our right hands, or to use less than three stones when purifying ourselves. He also forbade us to cleanse ourselves using dry dung or bones." (Muslim).

Hafsah, may Allah be pleased with her, said: "The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, used his right hand for eating, drinking...giving and taking, and his left hand for other than that" (Abu Dawood).

7- Purifying one's hand afterwards with soap or similar cleansing agent, in order to remove the bad smell. Abu Hurairah, may Allah be pleased with him, said: "When the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, relieved himself, I would bring him water and he would purify himself with it, and then wipe his hand on the earth" (Abu Dawood).