Ruling on Urinating While Sitting
Ruling on Urinating While Sitting
Ruling
The usual practice of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ was to urinate while sitting. Although there are authentic narrations mentioning that the Prophet ﷺ urinated while standing on certain occasions, scholars have explained that this may have been due to a particular circumstance or need, such as difficulty in sitting because of physical discomfort, difficulty due to an injury or pain in the knees, or because the place where he was urinating was unsuitable or unclean for sitting.
Therefore, urinating while standing without a valid excuse is Makruh (disliked) and contrary to modesty, dignity, and proper Islamic etiquette. It also carries a greater possibility of exposing the private parts and of urine coming into contact with the body or clothing. Particular care should be taken to protect oneself from urine splashes and impurity, as the Prophetic narrations strongly emphasize avoiding contamination from urine.
However, if there is a genuine need or valid excuse that makes sitting difficult or unsuitable, it is permissible to urinate while standing, provided that one protects the private parts and takes proper precautions to prevent urine from splashing onto the body, clothing, or surrounding area.
Aisha (رضي الله عنها) reported that the Prophet ﷺ would generally urinate while sitting. Thus, the normal and preferred practice is to urinate while sitting, while standing is permissible when there is a valid need or circumstance.
In summary: Urinating while standing without a valid excuse is Makruh (disliked), whereas doing so because of a genuine need or valid excuse is permissible, provided that one maintains modesty and avoids urine splashes and impurity.
أَخْبَرَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ حُجْرٍ، قَالَ أَنْبَأَنَا شَرِيكٌ، عَنِ الْمِقْدَامِ بْنِ شُرَيْحٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، قَالَتْ مَنْ حَدَّثَكُمْ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم بَالَ قَائِمًا فَلاَ تُصَدِّقُوهُ مَا كَانَ يَبُولُ إِلاَّ جَالِسًا .
It was narrated that 'Aishah said: "Whoever tells you that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) urinated standing up, do not believe him, for he would not urinate except while squatting."
Sunan an-Nasa'i 29
وَحَدَّثَنَا أَبُو سَعِيدٍ الأَشَجُّ، وَأَبُو كُرَيْبٍ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْعَلاَءِ وَإِسْحَاقُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ قَالَ إِسْحَاقُ أَخْبَرَنَا وَقَالَ الآخَرَانِ، حَدَّثَنَا وَكِيعٌ، حَدَّثَنَا الأَعْمَشُ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ مُجَاهِدًا، يُحَدِّثُ عَنْ طَاوُسٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ، قَالَ مَرَّ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم عَلَى قَبْرَيْنِ فَقَالَ " أَمَا إِنَّهُمَا لَيُعَذَّبَانِ وَمَا يُعَذَّبَانِ فِي كَبِيرٍ أَمَّا أَحَدُهُمَا فَكَانَ يَمْشِي بِالنَّمِيمَةِ وَأَمَّا الآخَرُ فَكَانَ لاَ يَسْتَتِرُ مِنْ بَوْلِهِ " . قَالَ فَدَعَا بِعَسِيبٍ رَطْبٍ فَشَقَّهُ بِاثْنَيْنِ ثُمَّ غَرَسَ عَلَى هَذَا وَاحِدًا وَعَلَى هَذَا وَاحِدًا ثُمَّ قَالَ " لَعَلَّهُ أَنْ يُخَفَّفَ عَنْهُمَا مَا لَمْ يَيْبَسَا " .
Ibn Abbas reported: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) happened to pass by two graves and said: They (their occupants) are being tormented, but they are not tormented for a grievous sin. One of them carried tales and the other did not keep himself safe from being defiled by urine. He then called for a fresh twig and split it into two parts, and planted them on each grave and then said: Perhaps, their punishment way be mitigated as long as these twigs remain fresh.
Sahih Muslim 292a
«وَيُكْرَهُ أَنْ يَبُولَ قَائِمًا أَوْ مُضْطَجِعًا أَوْ مُتَجَرِّدًا عَنْ ثَوْبِهِ مِنْ غَيْرِ عُذْرٍ، فَإِنْ كَانَ لِعُذْرٍ فَلَا بَأْسَ؛ لِأَنَّهُ عَلَيْهِ الصَّلَاةُ وَالسَّلَامُ بَالَ قَائِمًا لِوَجَعٍ فِي صُلْبِهِ.»
البحر الرائق — ج 1، ص 256
English Translation
“It is disliked to urinate while standing, lying down, or while being uncovered, without a valid excuse. If there is a valid excuse, then there is no harm. This is because the Prophet ﷺ urinated while standing due to pain in his lower back.”