Book 3: Purification

Abu Ayyub al-Ansari reported God’s messenger as saying, "When you go to the toilet neither face nor turn your back to the qibla [Ka'ba in Mecca], but turn towards the east or the west.” (Bukhari and Muslim.) The shaikh and imam Muhyi as-Sunna said that this tradition applies to the desert, but that in a built-up area it does not matter, on account of what is transmitted from ‘Abdallah b. ‘Umar who said, "I went up to the roof of Hafsa’s house for some purpose and saw God's messenger relieving himself facing Syria, with his back to the qibla.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Salman said, “He (meaning God’s messenger) forbade us to face the qibla when easing ourselves or passing water, or to wipe ourselves with the right hand, or to wipe ourselves with less than three stones, or to wipe ourselves with dung or bone.” Muslim transmitted it.

Anas reported that when God’s messenger entered the privy he used to say, "O God, I seek refuge in Thee from male and female devils.”* *One might be inclined to translate this phrase as "from infidelity and act of disobedience,” but the tradition from Zaid b. Arqam (p. 76) is very explicit, and so the translation above is probably the correct one. PT-2 (12-71.) (Bukhari and Muslim).

Ibn ‘Abbas told that the Prophet (ﷺ) came upon two graves and said, "Their occupants are being punished, but not for a great sin. One of them did not keep himself from being defiled by urine. (A version by Muslim has "did not keep himself undefiled by urine”.) The other went about spreading slander.” He then took a fresh palm branch, split it in two parts, and planted one on each grave. On being asked why he did this, he said, "Perhaps their punishment may be mitigated as long as they remain fresh.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Abu Huraira reported God's messenger as saying, "Guard against the two things which produce cursing.” He was asked what they were and said, "Relieving oneself where people walk, or where they sit in the shade.” Muslim transmitted it.

Abu Qatada reported God’s messenger as saying, "When one of you drinks he must not breathe into the vessel, and when he goes to relieve himself he must not touch his penis with his right hand, or wipe himself with his right hand.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Abu Huraira reported God’s messenger as saying, "When anyone performs ablution he must clear his nose, and when anyone wipes himself with stones he must make use of an odd number.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Anas said, "When God’s messenger entered the privy, a servant and I used to carry a skin of water and a pointed staff, and he would cleanse himself with the water.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)