Purification (Kitab Al-Taharah)

كتاب الطهارة

Chapter 1: Seclusion While Relieving Oneself

Narrated Mughirah ibn Shu'bah

When the Prophet (ﷺ) went (outside) to relieve himself, he went to a far-off place.

Narrated Jabir ibn Abdullah

When the Prophet (ﷺ) felt the need of relieving himself, he went far off where no one could see him.

Chapter 2: Choosing An Appropriate Place To Urinate

Abu al-Tayyah reported on the authority of a shaykh (an old man)

When Abdullah ibn Abbas came to Basrah, people narrated to him traditions from AbuMusa. Therefore Ibn Abbas wrote to him asking him about certain things. In reply AbuMusa wrote to him saying: One day I was in the company of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ). He wanted to urinate. Then he came to a soft ground at the foot of a wall and urinated. He (the Prophet) then said: If any of you wants to urinate, he should look for a place (like this) for his urination.

Chapter 3: What A Person Should Say When He Enters The Area Wherein He Relieves Himself

Anas b. Malik reported

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 Thee." This is according to the version of Hammad. 'Abd al-Warith has another version :"I seek refuge in Allaah from male and female devils."

Another tradition on the authority of Anas has

Shu'bah said: Anas sometimes reported the words: "I take refuge in Allah."

Narrated Zayd ibn Arqam

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: These privies are frequented by the jinns and devils. So when anyone amongst you goes there, he should say: "I seek refuge in Allah from male and female devils."

Chapter 4: It Is Dislikes To Face The Qiblah While Relieving Oneself

Narrated Salman al-Farsi

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.

Narrated Abu Hurairah

The Apostle of Allaah ( sal Allaahu alayhi wa sallam ) as saying: I am like father to you. When any of you goes to privy, he should not face or turn his back towards the qiblah. He should not cleanse with his right hand. He (the Prophet, sal Allaahu alayhi wa sallam) also commanded the Muslims to use three stones and forbade them to use dung or decayed bone.

Narrated Abu Ayyub

That he (the Holy Prophet, sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam) said:"When you go to the privy, neither turn your face nor your back towards the qiblah at the time of excretion or urination, but turn towards the east or the west. (Abu Ayyub said): When we came to Syria, we found that the toilets already built there were facing the qiblah, We turned our faces away from them and begged pardon of Allaah.

Narrated Ma'qil ibn AbuMa'qil al-Asadi

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) has forbidden us to face the two qiblahs at the time of urination or excretion.

Marwan al-Asfar said

I saw Ibn Umar make his camel kneel down facing the qiblah, then he sat down urinating in its direction. So I said: AbuAbdurRahman, has this not been forbidden? He replied: Why not, that was forbidden only in open country; but when there is something between you and the qiblah that conceals you , then there is no harm.

Chapter 5: Concession In This Regard

Narrated 'Abd Allaah b. 'Umar

I ascended the roof of the house and saw the Apostle of Allaah ( sal Allaahu alayhi wa sallam) sitting on two bricks facing Jerusalem (Bait al-Maqdis) for relieving himself.

Narrated Jabir ibn Abdullah

The Prophet of Allah (ﷺ) forbade us to face the qiblah at the time of making water. Then I saw him facing it (qiblah) urinating or easing himself one year before his death.

Chapter 6: How Should One Undress While Relieving Oneself

Narrated Abdullah ibn Umar

When the Prophet (ﷺ) wanted to relieve himself, he would not raise his garment, until he lowered himself near the ground.

Abu DAwud said: This tradition has been transmitted by 'Abd al-Salam b. Harb on the authority of al-A'mash from Anas b. Malik. This chain of narrators is weak (because A'mash's hearing tradition from Anas b. Malik is not established).

Chapter 7: The Disliking Of Speech While Relieving Oneself

Narrated AbuSa'id al-Khudri

I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say: When two persons go together for relieving themselves uncovering their private parts and talking together, Allah, the Great and Majestic, becomes wrathful at this (action).

Abu Dawud said: This tradition has been narrated only by 'Ikrimah b. 'Ammar.

Chapter 8: Returning Salam While Urinating ?

Narrated Ibn 'Umar

A man passed by the Prophet (sal Allaahu alayhi wa sallam ) while he was urinating, and saluted him. The Prophet (sal Allaahu alayhi wa sallam) did not return the salutation to him.

Abu Dawud said : It is narrated on the authority of Ibn 'Umar that the Prophet (sal Allaahu alayhi wa sallam) performed tayammum, then he returned the salutation to the man.

Narrated Muhajir ibn Qunfudh

Muhajir came to the Prophet (ﷺ) while he was urinating. He saluted him. The Prophet (ﷺ) 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.

Chapter 9: The Permissibility Of Remembering Allah, The Most High, While Not In A State Of Purity

Narrated A'ishah

The Apostle of Allaah ( sal Allaahu alayhi wa sallam ) used to remember Allaah, the Great and Majestic, at all moments.

Chapter 10: Entering The Area In Which One Relieves Oneself With A Ring Upon Which Allah's Name Is Engraved

Narrated Anas ibn Malik

When the Prophet (ﷺ) entered the privy, he removed his ring.

Abu Dawud said: This is a munkar tradition, i.e. it contradicts the well-known version reported by reliable narrators. On the authority of Anas the well-known version says: The Prophet (ﷺ) had a silver ring made for him. Then he cast it off. The misunderstanding is on the part of Hammam (who is the narrator of the previous tradition mentioned in the text). This is transmitted only by Hammam.