PURIFICATION

One should seek a soft and low piece of ground to protect himself from impurities

Abu Musa related that the Messenger of Allah came to a low and soft part of the ground and urinated. He then said, “When one of you urinates, he should choose the proper place to do so.” This is related by Ahmad and Abu Dawud. One of its narrators is unknown, but its meaning is sound.

One should not use a hole in the ground

Qatadah related from ‘Abdullah Ibn Sarjas who said, “The Messenger of Allah forbade urination into a hole.” Said Qatadah, “What is disliked about urinating into a hole?” Said he, “It is the residence of the jinn.”

This hadith is related by Ahmad, an-Nasa’i, Abu Dawud, al-Hakim and al-Baihaqi. Ibn Khuzaimah and Ibn as-Sakin classified it as Sahih.

One should avoid shaded places and those places where people walk and gather.

Abu Hurairah reported that the Messenger of Allah, upon whom be peace, said, “Beware of those acts which cause others to curse.” They asked, “What are those acts?” He said, “Relieving yourself in the people’s walkways or in their shade.” This hadith is related by Ahmad, Muslim and Abu Dawud.

One should not urinate in bathing places or in still or running water

‘Abdullah ibn Mughaffal narrated that the Prophet said, “None of you should urinate in a bathing place and then make ablution in the water. The majority of waswas comes from that.” This is related by “the five,” but the statement, “and then make ablution in it” was only related by Ahmad and Abu Dawud. Jabir said the Prophet forbade urinating in still as well as running water. (Related by Ahmad, an-Nasa’I and Ibn Majah.) In Majma az-Zuwaid it states, “This was related by at-Tabarani, and its narrators are trustworthy.”

If there is a drain in the bathing place, it is permissible to urinate into it.

One may not urinate while standing

If a person can guarantee that no impurities will touch his clothes, it is permissible to urinate while standing. Said ‘Aisha, “If someone relates to you that the Messenger of Allah urinated while standing, do not believe him. He only urinated while sitting.” This hadith is related by “the five,” except for Abu Dawud. At-Tirmizhi’s comment is, “It is the best thing related on this point, and it is the most authentic.”

One should not forget that what ‘Aishah said is based on the knowledge that she had. Huzhaifah relates that the Messenger of Allah, upon whom be peace, went to a public garbage dump and urinated while standing. Huzhaifah went away, and the Prophet then called him over. The Prophet made ablution and wiped over his shoes. This is related by “the group.”

Commenting upon the issue, an-Nawawi says, “To urinate while sitting is most desirable in my opinion, but to do so standing is permissible. Both acts are confirmed by the Messenger of Allah, upon whom be peace.

One must remove any impurities from his clothes and body

To do so, he can use a rock, stone or any other pure matter. One may use only water to clean the area, or any combinations of purifying agents. ‘Aishah reported that the Messenger of Allah, upon whom be peace, said, “When one of you goes to relieve himself, he should clean himself with three stones.” (Related by Ahmad, an-Nasa’i, Abu Dawud and ad-Daraqutni).

Anas related that the Messenger of Allah would enter the privy, and that Anas and another boy would carry the water container and spear for him. The Prophet would clean himself with water.” (Related by al-Bukhari and Muslim.)

Ibn ‘Abbas related that the Messenger of Allah, upon whom be peace, passed by two graves and said, “They are being punished. But they are not being punished for a great matter (on their part). One of them did not clean himself from urine and the other used to spread slander.” (Related by “the group.”)

Anas also related the Prophet as saying, “Purify yourselves from urine, as most punishment in the grave is due to it.”

One should not clean himself with his right hand

‘Abdurahman ibn Zaid related that Salman was asked, “Your Prophet teaches you everything, even how to relieve yourselves?” Salman said, “Certainly ... He forbade us from facing the qiblah while doing so, from cleaning ourselves with our right hand, and from cleaning ourselves with less than three stones. We also should not use an impure substance or a bone to clean ourselves.” (Related by Muslim, Abu Dawud, and at-Tirmizhi.)

Hafsah reported, “The Messenger of Allah, upon whom be peace, reserved his right hand for eating, drinking, putting on his clothes, taking and giving. He used his left hand for other actions.” (Related by Ahmad, Abu Dawud, Ibn Majah, Ibn Hibban, al-Hakim and al-Baihaqi).

One should remove any bad smell from his hands after cleaning himself

Abu Hurairah said, “When the Messenger of Allah upon whom be peace, relieved himself, I used to bring him a container of water. He would cleanse himself, and then rub his hands against the soil.” (Related by Abu Dawud, an-Nasa’i, al-Baihaqi, and Ibn Majah.)

One should sprinkle his penis and underwear with water after urination

Make sure that he has cleansed himself. If one finds some dampness in his clothes after so doing, he can content himself by saying, “That is just water.” This is based on the hadith related by al-Hakim ibn Sufyan or Sufyan ibn al-Hakim who said, “When the Messenger of Allah, upon whom be peace, urinated, he would wash and sprinkle (his penis).” In another narration it states, “I saw the Messenger of Allah urinate, after which he sprinkled water over his penis.” Ibn ‘Umar used to sprinkle his penis until his underwear became wet.

Entering the bathroom

One should enter the bathroom or a privy with his left foot, and exit with his right foot, saying: “O Allah! I seek your forgiveness.” ‘Aisha related that when the Messenger of Allah left the bathroom, he would say this supplication. (Related by “the five,” except for an-Nasa’i.) What ‘Aisha stated is the soundest statement on this topic. It is related through a number of weak chains that the Prophet, upon whom be peace, used to say, “Praise be to Allah who made the filth leave me and who has given me health,” and “Praise be to Allah who let me enjoy it, kept for me its energy and relieved me of its harm.”

Acts that correspond to the Nature of Mankind

Allah has chosen certain acts for all of His prophets and their followers to perform. These acts distinguish them from the rest of mankind, and are known as sunan al-fitra, (the acts that correspond to the nature of mankind)

To be continued