Continuation of Chapter in regards to relieving oneself:
5. Not facing or facing one’s back towards the Direction of the Qiblah whilst reliving oneself
Imam Ash Shawkaani mentioned 8 stances regarding this in his book “Naylil Awtaar.” The strongest of them are four:
- That it is not permissible whether it be in an open area or enclosed
They used the following narration as evidence:
Narrated Abu Aiyub Al-Ansari:
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “While defecating, neither face nor turn your back to the Qibla, but face either the east or the west.” Abu Aiyub added: “when we arrived in Sham we came across some lavatories facing the Qibla; therefore we turned ourselves while using them and asked for Allah’s forgiveness.”
They refute the other statements by saying the narrations they mention are specific to the prophet صلى الله عليه و سلم.
This is the stance Ibnul Arabi al Maalikee, Ibn Hazm, Ibn Taymiyah, Ibnul Qaiyum, and Al Albani deemed correct.
2. It is prohibited in the open areas and not in enclosed areas
It is the statement of Maalik, Ash Shafiee, Ishaaq, Ahmad in a report from him, and it is the statement of Imam Al Bukhari. Al Haafith Ibn Hajr ascribed it to the Majority.
Imam As Sanaani and Muqbil Al Wadi’ee also viewed it to be the correct stance.
They used the following narration as evidence of its permissibility in enclosed areas:
Narrated `Abdullah bin `Umar:
I went up to the roof of Hafsa’s house for some job and I saw Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) answering the call of nature facing Sham (Syria, Jordan, Palestine and Lebanon regarded as one country) with his back towards the Qibla.
(See Hadith No. 147)
3. It’s permissible to do it whether that be in open areas or enclosed areas.
They used as evidence the narration of Jaabir in Musnad Ahmad and In Saheeh Al Musnad he said:
The prophet صلى الله عليه و سلم prohibited that we face the Qiblah whilst urinating, and I saw him a year before he passed away facing it.
This narration is considered as that which abrogates the previous evidences due to it being later, but to combine between the two proofs is preceded upon abrogation.
4. It is disliked in Open areas and Enclosed areas
They combined between the preceded narrations, and mentioned the prohibition mentioned in the narration of Abu Ayub and Salman is carried upon it being disliked.
That which takes it away from prohibition is the action of the prophet صلى الله عليه و سلم in the narration of Ibn Umar and Jaabir.
The narration of Jaabir mentions that it wasn’t in an enclosed area.
This is the stance shaykh Muhammad Ibn Hizaam declared to be the correct one; that it is disliked in open and enclosed areas.
As for facing Baytul Maqdis, then it is not disliked whether one faces it or turns his back towards it.
As for the narration of Ma’aqil al Asadi reported by Imam Abu Dawood
“The prophet صلى الله عليه و سلم prohibited that we face the two Qiblahs whilst urinating or defecating”
Then it is weak.
As for it not being allowed to face the sun or the moon or the stars during relieving oneself, then all of it has no proof whatsoever.
To be continued ان شاء الله
Compiled by
Majid Jawed Al-Afghanee
Abu Layl
