1- It is recommended to take off anything which has the name of Allah (G. B. H) on it even if it is inside a locket except if the case is made of material which prevents odor from reaching it.

It is narrated by Anas ibn Maiek (G. p. H) that: "the Prophet (P. B. U. H) used to take off his ring whenever he went to the bathroom".

[Al-Tirmithi, Vol. 4, The Book of Dress, Chapter 16/1746].

It is known (from Al-Sahihain [Muslim and Bukhari]. ) that the inscription on his ring was "Muhammad the Messenger of Allah".

[See Al-Bukhari, Vol. 5, The Book of Dress, Chapter 52/5539]

2- It is recommended to wear something on one's feet.

3- It is recommended to cover the head, for both men and women, because the bathroom is the refuge of S Haytan.

Proof for the above is what Al-Bayhaqi narrated that Habib ibn Saleh said: "The Prophet (P. B. U. H) used to put on his khuff and cover his head when he entered the bathroom".

[Al-Bayhaqi, Vol. 1, page 96].

4- It is recommended to prepare something to cleanse yourself with before sitting down, because Aisha (G. p. H) narrated that: "The Prophet (P. B. U. H) said:

"When one of you goes to bathroom he should take three stones with him".

[Abu Dawood, Vol. 1, The Book of Purification, Chapter 21/40].

5- Seeking privacy.

It is recommended to seek cover even if there is no one to cover from, otherwise it is obligatory.

The cover, or screen, should be behind a person.

Abu Hurayrah (G. p. H) narrated that the Prophet (P. B. U. H) said:

"... Whoever goes to bathroom should seek cover, and if he finds none he should at least put a heap of sand behind him".

[Abu Dawood, The Book of Purification, Chapter 19/35].

The height of the barrier should be no less than two thirds of a human arm (about 32 cm), and should not be farther than three arms (about 1. 5 m).

It may be a wall, ditch, or a heap of sand.

If one lets down his garment in the direction of the qibla then it will suffice.

If one is in the desert or outdoors, he should walk away as far as possible, for Ya'la ibn Murrah (G. p. H) narrated that:

"The Prophet (P. B. U. H)used to go far away when he went to bathroom".

[Abu Dawood, The Book of Purification, Chapter 19/35].

6- It is recommended to enter with the left foot and to step out with the right foot.

One should do the same if outdoors when one reaches the place where he intends to sit.

The author of Al-Muhathab said: "Because the left foot is for that which is noxious and the right one is for other things".

7- Upon entering, it is recommended to say:

"By the name of Allah (G. B. H), I seek refuge in You from the male S Haytan and the female S Haytan".

Anas ibn Maiek (G. p. H) narrated that the Prophet (P. B. U. H) said:

"The veil between the eyes of jinn and the awra"

[Ibn Maja, Vol. 1, The Book of Purification, Chapter 22/333] of humans is to say:

'Bismillah (in the name of Allah). '

[Revealed by Al-Tabarani in Al-Awsat, The Collection of Supplements, Vol. 1, Page 205]. (pa: 30)

Al-Bukhari narrated from Anas (G. p. H) that: "The Prophet (P. B. U. H) used to say when he went to the bathroom:

"0 Allah, I seek refuge in you from the male S Haytan and the female S Haytan".

[Bukhari, Vol. 1, The Book of Wudu, Chapter 9/124].

On leaving, one should say: "(O Lord) Your forgiveness, Praise be to Allah (G. B. H) Who rid me of harm and cured me".

Aisha (G. p. H) said: "The Prophet (P. B. U. H) used to say when leaving the bathroom: '(0 Lord) Your forgiveness. '

[Ibn Maja, Vol. 1, The Book of Purification, Chapter 10/300].

Also, Anas (G. p. H) narrated that:

"The Prophet (P. B. U. H) used to say on leaving the bathroom:

"Praise be to Allah (G. B. H) Who rid me of harm and cured me".

[Ibn Maja, Vol. 1, The Book of Purification, Chapter 10/301]

One can add: "0 Lord, purify my heart from hypocrisy and guard my private parts against sin".

8- It is recommended not to raise one's garment until one has squatted.

Ibn Umar (G. p. H) said: "When the Prophet (P. B. U. H) would go to the bathroom he would never raise his garment until he squatted down to the ground".

[Al-Tirmithi, Vol. 1, The Book of Purification, Chapter 10/14].

It is also recommended when one is finished to lower one's garment before standing up.

9- It is recommended to keep one's legs apart to avoid contamination because of the hadith about the torment of the grave which says:

"... One of them used to not avoid contamination from his urine".

[Al-Bukhari, Vol. 1, The Book of Funerals, Chapter 87/1312 This hadith was mentioned earlier as revealed by Muslim].

One should put his weight on one's left leg when squatting and relax his right foot, because Suraqah ibn Ja'sham (G. p. H) said: "The Prophet (P. B. U. H) taught us to put our weight on our left foot and relax the right one when we go to the bathroom".

[Al-Bayhaqi, Vol. 1, page 96].

10- Males should get rid of any residual urine if it seems like some of it remains by hemming, waiting for a few moments, or walking a few steps, provided this does not reach the level of obsession.

The evidence for this is what was mentioned in the hadith of the torment of the grave, in the narration of Al-NaSa'i which says:

"... One of them used to not cleanse himself of his urine".

[Al-NaSa'i, Vol. 4, page 106].

Females need not do this but should remove any wadi

[A white thick odorless discharge preceding or following urination, sometimes occurs as the result of carrying something heavy].

11- It is makrooh to urinate facing the breeze (if outdoors) in case the spray will come back on one.

Therefore, it is recommended to turn one's back towards the wind.

12- It is makrooh to urinate or defecate in a hole or den for Abdullah ibn Sarjis (G. p. H) said: "The Prophet (P. B. U. H) prohibited us to urinate into holes".

He said: "They asked Qatada: 'What is wrong with urinating into holes?'

He answered: 'They are believed to be the homes of jinn. '"

[Abu-Dawood, Vol. 1, The Book of Purification, Chapter 16/29].

Also, a creature may come out and sting one or splash one's urine back onto him. (pa: 31)

13- It is makrooh to urinate or defecate in the road, for Mu'ath ibn Jabal (G. p. H) said:

"The Prophet (P. B. U. H) said:

"Avoid the three deeds that cause one to be cursed:

Defecating in paths that lead to water sources, in roads, or in shade".

[Abu Dawood, Vol. 1, The Book of Purification, Chapter 14/26]

14- It is makrooh to urinate in a place where people gather (for discussions) because it is harmful to them.

15- It is makrooh to urinate or defecate under a fruit-bearing tree whose fruits are edible, whether at the time of bearing fruit or not, to keep the falling fruits from contamination.

Defecation is less makrooh in this case because it can be seen and hence the contaminated fruit can be avoided or cleansed.

16- It is makrooh to urinate on hard surfaces so as not to get back splashed.

Abu Musa Al-Ash'ari (G. p. H) said: "I was with the Prophet (P. B. U. H) one day, and he wanted to urinate so he came to a soft ground next to the base of a wall and urinated and said:

"If one of you wants to pass urine he should choose a (proper) place for that".

[Abu Dawood, Vol. 1, The Book of Purification, Chapter 2/3].

17- The legal status of defecating and urinating in water:

-a- Stagnant (still) water, be it a small or large amount: It is makrooh to pass urine into.

Jaber (G. p. H) said that: "The Prophet (P. B. U. H) prohibited passing urine into still water".

[Muslim, Vol. 1, The Book of Purification, Chapter 28/94].

-b- Running water: If it is a small amount then it is prohibited to pass urine in it because this will make it najis for oneself and for others, however, if it is a large amount then it is not prohibited but it is best to avoid it.

The prohibition of defecation near water goes without saying and is included within the prohibition of urinating in paths leading to water sources.

-c- Water donated for public use (sabil).

It is prohibited to defecate or urinate in such water unless it resembles a sea in size.

The same is true for water owned by others.

18- There are three rules for urinating or defecating facing the qibla or with one's back to it:

-a- It is prohibited to urinate or defecate with one's face or back towards the qibla when outdoors (e. g. desert) and there is no barrier to screen one or there is a barrier that does not satisfy the conditions.

Abu Ayub Al-Ansari (G. p. H) said:

"The Prophet (P. B. U. H) said:

"'If one of you wants to go to the bathroom, he should not face the qibla nor turn his back towards it, face east or west".

[Al-Bukhari, Vol. 1, The Book of Wudu, Chapter 11/144].

Also, it is narrated by Abu Hurayrah (G. p. H) that: "The Prophet (P. B. U. H)said:

"I am like a father to you, teaching you: If one of you wants to go to the bathroom, he should not face the qibla or turn his back towards it.

He should not clean himself with his right hand". ' He used to tell us to use three stones, and prohibit the use of manure (to clean ourselves with)".

[Abu Dawood, Vol. 1, The Book of Purification, Chapter 4/8]. (pa: 32)

-b- It is best not to urinate or defecate with one's face or back towards the qibla even if there is a barrier.

-c- It is not prohibited, makrooh, or foregoing what is fitter to urinate or defecate with one's front or back towards the qibla in places intended to relieve oneself

(Bathrooms), but it is more polite to avoid it, and to sit turning to the side slightly if this is possible without trouble.

19- It is makrooh to talk except for necessity.

Hence, if one sneezes, for example, one should say: "Alhamdulilah" in his heart, and if one greets you it is makrooh to answer.

Ibn Umar I (G. p. H) said: "A man gave salam to the Prophet (P. B. U. H) while he was urinating, and he did not answer him".

[Al-Tirmithi, The Book of Purification, Chapter 67/90].

Also, Abu Sa'id Al-Khadari (G. p. H) narrated that he heard the Prophet (P. B. U. H) saying:

"No two men should go out to bathroom, exposing their awra, and talking to each other, because Allah (G. B. H) detests that".

[Abu Dawood, Vol. 1, The Book of Purification, Chapter 7/15].

20- It is makrooh to urinate while standing unless there is an excuse.

Aisha (G. p. H) said: "Do not believe whoever told you that the Prophet (P. B. U. H) used to urinate while standing. He never urinated except seated".

[Al-Tirmithi, Vol. 1, The Books of Purification, Chapter 8/12].

Muslim narrated from Huthaifah that he said: "I was with the Prophet (P. B. U. H) walking and he came to a dump behind a wall and stood like anyone would stand and urinated''

[Muslim, Vol. 1, The Book of Purification, Chapter 22/74].

Al-Khatabi said: "This may have been due to pain in his back or his knees or because he did not find a place suitable for sitting or to indicate that it is permissible and not forbidden (to urinate while standing)".

21- It is makrooh to sit for a long time.

Luqman (G. p. H) said "Prolonged sitting for defecation hurts the liver, and causes hemorrhoids, so sit for a short time and leave".

[Al-Majmu', Vol. 2, page 98].

22- It is makrooh to look at the sky or at one's private parts, or to the waste matter, except for necessity.

It is also makrooh to handle your private parts unnecessarily.

23- It is makrooh to cleanse oneself with water in the same place of defecating in case najasa spatters back on to one.

Abdullah ibn Al-Mugaffal said that the Prophet (P. B. U. H) said:

"No one should urinate in the place he bathes, then perform wudu there, because most obsessions are the result of this".

[Abu Dawood, Vol. 1, The Book of Purification, Chapter 15/27].

However, there is no harm in doing that in places intended for it such as toilets because they do not cause water to spatter onto you.

24- It is forbidden to urinate in the mosque even into a receptacle, because urine is najis and mosques should be kept protected from it.

25- It is forbidden to urinate onto a grave, since its soil has intermingled with the dead body, and it is makrooh to urinate near it. (pa: 33)

26- It is forbidden to urinate on that which cannot be used, because of their inherent value, for cleaning the private parts, such as bones, food, and other things that will be explained in the next chapter. (pa: 34)