Hadith on Avoiding the Qiblah While Relieving Oneself
Narrated by Abu Huraira (رضي الله عنه), the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:"I am like a father to you, teaching you. When any of you goes to relieve himself, he should neither face the Qiblah nor turn his back toward it. He should neither cleanse himself with his right hand nor use it to wash. He (ﷺ) used to instruct using three stones and forbade using dung and decayed bones for cleaning."
[Sunan Abu Dawood]
✔ Hadith Classification: Hasan (Good)
✔ Verification and Referencing: Sunan Abu Dawood (8), Ibn Majah (313), Sunan An-Nasa'i (1/38), Ibn Hibban (128), Al-Bayhaqi (1/102, 111, 112), Ibn Khuzaymah (80), Sahih Muslim (265).
Narrated by Abdullah ibn Umar (رضي الله عنه):
"People say that when one sits for relieving himself, he should neither face the Qiblah nor Baitul Maqdis. But I once climbed onto the roof of our house and saw the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) sitting on two bricks, relieving himself while facing Baitul Maqdis."
[Sahih Bukhari & Sahih Muslim]
✔ Verification and Referencing: Sahih Bukhari (148), Sahih Muslim (266), Muwatta Imam Malik.
Key Points Derived from the Hadith
✔ In an open field, one should not face the Qiblah or turn his back toward it while relieving oneself. Instead, a north-south direction should be used.✔ If there is a wall or enclosed restroom, it is still recommended to avoid facing the Qiblah, though some narrations indicate it may be permissible if necessary.
✔ A minimum of three stones (or equivalents) should be used for istinja (cleaning after relieving oneself).
✔ Using dung, bones, or animal excrement for purification is prohibited, as they do not cleanse properly and are considered food for the jinn.
✔ Both the Ka‘bah in Makkah and Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem are sacred, and their sanctity must be respected.
✔ Building toilets in courtyards or on rooftops is permissible, provided privacy is ensured. A proper drainage system should be in place to prevent splashing.
✔ Parents are responsible for teaching their children hygiene, manners, and proper Islamic etiquette, including bathroom habits. The Prophet (ﷺ) said:
"I am like a father to you, teaching you."
[This content is taken from the book Diya' Al-Islam Fi Sharh Al-Imam Bi Ahadith Al-Ahkam by Sheikh Taqi Al-Din Abu Al-Fath, translated by Maulana Mahmood Ahmad Ghaznfar.]