Source: Ahkam wa Masā’il – The Chapter of Mosques, Vol. 1, p. 107
In our village, the Jāmiʿ Masjid has been rebuilt, and the bathrooms constructed inside are facing towards the Kaʿbah. When someone performs istinjāʾ there, his face or back is directed towards the Qiblah. Is it permissible in Sharīʿah to relieve oneself in this way?
Alhamdulillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu wa-s-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh. Ammā baʿd!
According to Islamic teachings, when using the toilet or bathroom for urination or defecation, it is forbidden to face or turn one’s back to the Qiblah (Kaʿbah). There are explicit prohibitions regarding this in authentic marfūʿ aḥādīth.
Abū Ayyūb al-Anṣārī (RA) narrated:
❖ The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “When you go to the place of relieving yourself, do not face the Qiblah nor turn your back towards it.”
(al-Bukhārī – Kitāb al-Wuḍūʾ, Bāb lā tastaqbil al-qiblah bi-bawlin wa-lā ghāʾiṭin illā ʿinda bināʾ jidar aw naḥwih)
Therefore, if the bathrooms are built in such a way that while sitting a person’s face or back faces the Qiblah, then this practice is impermissible in Sharīʿah.
ھذا ما عندي، والله أعلم بالصواب
❖ The Question
In our village, the Jāmiʿ Masjid has been rebuilt, and the bathrooms constructed inside are facing towards the Kaʿbah. When someone performs istinjāʾ there, his face or back is directed towards the Qiblah. Is it permissible in Sharīʿah to relieve oneself in this way?
❖ The Answer
Alhamdulillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu wa-s-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh. Ammā baʿd!
According to Islamic teachings, when using the toilet or bathroom for urination or defecation, it is forbidden to face or turn one’s back to the Qiblah (Kaʿbah). There are explicit prohibitions regarding this in authentic marfūʿ aḥādīth.
❖ Evidence for the Prohibition
Abū Ayyūb al-Anṣārī (RA) narrated:
❖ The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “When you go to the place of relieving yourself, do not face the Qiblah nor turn your back towards it.”
(al-Bukhārī – Kitāb al-Wuḍūʾ, Bāb lā tastaqbil al-qiblah bi-bawlin wa-lā ghāʾiṭin illā ʿinda bināʾ jidar aw naḥwih)
❖ Conclusion
Therefore, if the bathrooms are built in such a way that while sitting a person’s face or back faces the Qiblah, then this practice is impermissible in Sharīʿah.
ھذا ما عندي، والله أعلم بالصواب
