❖ Ruling on Reciting Wudu Supplications and Dhikr of Allah in the Bathroom
Source: Fatawa Amun Puri by Shaykh Ghulam Mustafa Zaheer Amun Puri
❀ Question:
In a bathroom that includes a toilet, shower, and sink, is it permissible to recite the recommended supplications while performing wudu? Also, is it permissible to mention Allah’s name in such a bathroom?
❀ Answer:
If the bathroom has both a shower and a toilet, then reciting the supplications of wudu in it is permissible, because pure words ascend to Allah ﷻ.
Only during the act of relieving oneself is the remembrance of Allah prohibited. If a person is not relieving himself in the toilet, then dhikr is permissible there.
❀ Allah ﷻ says:
﴿إِلَيْهِ يَصْعَدُ الْكَلِمُ الطَّيِّبُ وَالْعَمَلُ الصَّالِحُ يَرْفَعُهُ﴾
(Fatir: 10)
“Pure words ascend to Him, and righteous action elevates them.”
❀ Imam Sha‘bi رحمه الله was asked:
الرجل يعطس على الخلاء؟ قال : يحمد الله
“A man sneezes while in the toilet—should he praise Allah? He replied: He should say al-ḥamdu lillāh.”
(Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah, 1/113 – sahih chain)
❀ Imam Ibrahim Sha‘bi رحمه الله said:
يحمد الله، فإنه يصعد
“He should say al-ḥamdu lillāh, for indeed it ascends.”
(Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah, 1/113 – sahih chain)
❀ Imam Ibn Sirin رحمه الله was asked about one who sneezes in the bathroom. He replied:
لا أعلم بأسا بذكر الله
“I do not know of any harm in mentioning Allah there.”
(Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah, 1/114 – sahih chain)
❀ Clarification:
Abu Wā’il Shaqīq ibn ‘Abdullah رحمه الله said:
اثنتان لا يذكر الله العبد فيهما : إذا أتى الرجل أهله يبدأ فيسمي الله، وإذا كان فى الخلاء
“There are two times when a servant does not mention Allah: when a man approaches his wife (for intimacy, after saying Bismillah), and when he is relieving himself in the toilet.”
(Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah, 1/113 – sahih chain)
The intent of Abu Wā’il رحمه الله is that dhikr is not to be made during intercourse or while relieving oneself, but it does not mean that mentioning Allah in a bathroom is prohibited altogether.
