toilets are in the direction of Kaabaa

Ref no: 0261#

Category

Fiqh

Title

toilets are in the direction of Kaabaa

Question

I am working in a Pakistani company, recently after the office construction we noticed that our washroom have been built in such a way that the toilets are in the direction of Kaabaa (Qibla Rukh). If you could please tell us the shariah ruling for this so we can explain to our administrator incharge why we need to change this (with relevant “waeed” stated in quran and hadith). Further please suggest us the course of action we should adapt till the problem is resolved

Answer

Muhtaram / Muhtaramah

In the Name of Allāh, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāh wa-barakātuh.

Allah Ta’ala says in the Holy Quran:

من يعظم شعائر الله فإنها من تقوى القلوب

“If one observes the sanctity of the symbols of Allah, then such things emanate from the piety of the hearts.”(22:32)

The Qibla (direction of the Ka’bah) is considered to be amongst the Sha’air (symbols) of Allah Ta’ala. Praying towards the direction of the Ka’bah, the most sacred site for Muslims, is one of the distinct signs of Islam with which Allah Ta’ala blessed and bestowed on this Ummah. Therefore, the Qibla must be respected. The act of relieving oneself when using the toilet is obviously not considered to be amongst the cleanest and most respectful of acts.

Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) has clearly prohibited facing the Qibla and putting one’s back towards its direction while relieving oneself. It is stated in a Hadith:

عن أبى أيوب الأنصارى أن النبى – صلى الله عليه وسلم – قال « إذا أتيتم الغائط فلا تستقبلوا القبلة ولا تستدبروها ، ولكن شرقوا أو غربوا »

“Abu Ayyub Al-Ansari (RadiyAllahu Anhu) relates that the Messenger of Allah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) said: If any one of you comes to relieve yourself, then do not face the Qibla and do not put your back towards it, rather face the east or the west.” (Sahih Bukhari, Vol. 1, P. 118, Darul Fikr)

It is important to note that Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) said this Hadith while in Madinah. The direction of Qibla in Madinah was towards the south, which is why Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) said to face the east or west. Similar narrations of this Hadith are also narrated in Muslim, Tirmidhi, and Abu Dawud.

It is also evident in books of Islamic Jurisprudence (Fiqh) that facing the Qibla while relieving oneself is Makruh Tahreemi (an abominable act).

Therefore, it is necessary for you to relate this prohibition to your administrator and the company should make an all-out effort to change the direction of the toilets, especially if they are able to do so financially. InshaAllah you will also get reward for your efforts in trying to persuade the administration.

In the meantime, while the problem is being solved, if it is necessary for anyone to use the toilet there, they should try their best to sit in a way which is pointing away from the Qibla. If even that is not possible, then only out of dire necessity one may use the toilets there. However, one should repent and seek the forgiveness of Allah Ta’ala thereafter. This is what Abu Ayyub Al-Ansari (RadiyAllahu Anhu) also narrated. Following the abovementioned Hadith in Bukhari, it is stated:

قال أبو أيوب فقدمنا الشأم فوجدنا مراحيض بنيت قبل القبلة ، فننحرف ونستغفر الله تعالى .

“Abu Ayyub Al-Ansari (RadiyAllahu Anhu) says: When we came to Sham (Syria) we found that the toilets there were built facing the Qibla. So we deviated (from its direction) and we sought the forgiveness of Allah Ta’ala (after using the toilets).”

( كره استقبال القبلة بالفرج في الخلاء واستدبارها ) لقوله عليه الصلاة والسلام { إذا أتيتم الغائط فلا تستقبلوا القبلة ولا تستدبروها ببول أو غائط ولكن شرقوا أو غربوا } وأراد بقوله شرقوا أو غربوا في المدينة وما حولها من البلاد لأن قبلتهم بين المشرق والمغرب

(Tabyeen al-Haqaaiq, Vol. 1, P. 418, Darul Kutub Ilmiyya)

فصل ويكره استقبال القبلة بالفرج في الخلاء لأنه عليه الصلاة والسلام نهى عن ذلك .

(Fathul Qadeer, Vol. 1, P. 366, Rashidiyya)

( قوله كره استقبال القبلة بالفرج في الخلاء واستدبارها ) والخلاء بالمد بيت التغوط وأما بالقصر فهو النبت والكراهة تحريمية لما أخرجه الستة عنه صلى الله عليه وسلم { إذا أتيتم الغائط فلا تستقبلوا القبلة ولا تستدبروها ولكن شرقوا أو غربوا }

(Al-Bahr al-Raaiq, Vol. 2, P. 33, Rashidiyya)

ويكره استقبال القبلة بالفرج في الخلاء لأنه عليه الصلاة و السلام نهى عن ذلك

(Al-Hidaya, Vol. 1, P. 143-144, Maktabah Shirkah)

و يكره استقبال القبلة بالفرج في الخلاء لما روي عن النبي عليه الصلاة و السلام أنه قال : [ إذا أتيتم الغائط فعظموا قبلة الله تبارك و تعالى فلا تستقبلوها و لا تستدبروها و لكن شرقوا أو غربوا ] و هذا بالمدينة

(Badaai’ al-Sanaai’, Vol. 4, P. 303, Darul Kutub Deoband)

( ويكره ) تحريما ( استقبال القبلة بالفرج ) ولو ( في الخلاء ) بالمد : بيت التغوط ، وكذا استدبارها ( في الأصح كما كره )

(Darrul Mukhtar, Vol. 1, P. 655, HM Saeed)

( قوله تحريما ) لما أخرجه الستة عنه صلى الله عليه وسلم ” { إذا أتيتم الغائط فلا تستقبلوا القبلة ولا تستدبروها ولكن شرقوا أو غربوا } “

(Raddul Muhtar, Vol. 1, P. 655, HM Saeed)

And Allah knows best
Darul Iftaa

Madrasah Inaa’miyyah