The Dhikr Before Entering and After Leaving

What Should a Muslim Say Before Entering the Restroom?

Before entering the restroom, a Muslim says:

"بِسْمِ اللَّهِ، اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنَ الخُبُثِ وَالخَبَائِثِ".

Meaning: “In the name of Allah. O Allah, I seek refuge in You from male and female devils.”

What Should a Muslim Say After Leaving?

After leaving it, a Muslim says:

"غُفْرَانَكَ".

Meaning: “I seek Your forgiveness.”

Each of these two adhkar is said once. No prescribed number of repetitions has been authentically established.

Anas ibn Malik, may Allah be pleased with him, reported:

"كَانَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ إِذَا دَخَلَ الخَلَاءَ قَالَ: اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنَ الخُبُثِ وَالخَبَائِثِ".

Meaning: “When the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, entered the restroom, he would say: ‘O Allah, I seek refuge in You from male and female devils.’”

Agreed upon by al-Bukhari and Muslim.

The meaning of “I seek refuge in You” is: I turn to You for protection and hold fast to You. Scholars explained “al-khubth wal-khaba’ith” as evil and devils; it has also been explained as male and female devils.

These adhkar are legislated means that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, taught us. Protection, benefit, and the removal of harm, however, are from Allah alone, without partner.

The meaning of the phrase “when he entered the restroom” is when he intended to enter. Therefore, the dhikr is said before entering the place designated for relieving oneself, not after sitting inside it.

The Basmalah and When to Say the Entrance Dhikr

Should a Muslim Say Bismillah?

Yes. Before entering, a Muslim says:

"بِسْمِ اللَّهِ".

Meaning: “In the name of Allah.”

Then he says:

"اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنَ الخُبُثِ وَالخَبَائِثِ".

Meaning: “O Allah, I seek refuge in You from male and female devils.”

Ali ibn Abi Talib, may Allah be pleased with him, reported that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

"سَتْرُ مَا بَيْنَ أَعْيُنِ الجِنِّ وَعَوْرَاتِ بَنِي آدَمَ إِذَا دَخَلَ أَحَدُهُمُ الخَلَاءَ أَنْ يَقُولَ: بِسْمِ اللَّهِ".

Meaning: “The screen between the eyes of the jinn and the private parts of the children of Adam, when one of them enters the restroom, is to say: ‘In the name of Allah.’”

Narrated by al-Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah, and authenticated by al-Albani.

Combining the basmalah with seeking refuge is legislated. They are two established adhkar reported in two separate hadiths.

When Is the Entrance Dhikr Said?

If the toilet is inside a building, the supplication is said before entering the place designated for relieving oneself. If a person is outdoors, it is said when intending to relieve oneself and before uncovering the awrah.

If a bathroom contains the toilet, sink, and bathing area in one room, the dhikr is said before entering that room. If the toilet area is separated by a door within a larger space, it is said before entering the part designated for the toilet.

The Exit Dhikr and Which Foot to Lead With

The Authentic Dhikr After Leaving

Aishah, may Allah be pleased with her, reported:

"كَانَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ إِذَا خَرَجَ مِنَ الخَلَاءِ قَالَ: غُفْرَانَكَ".

Meaning: “When the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, left the restroom, he would say: ‘I seek Your forgiveness.’”

Narrated by Abu Dawud, al-Tirmidhi, and Ibn Majah. Al-Tirmidhi graded it hasan, and al-Albani authenticated it.

“Ghufranak” means: I ask You for forgiveness. Scholars mentioned several explanations for the appropriateness of seeking forgiveness here, including thanking Allah for making the removal of waste easy, or seeking forgiveness for refraining from verbal remembrance during the time spent relieving oneself. These are scholarly explanations; what is authentically established from the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, is the wording “Ghufranak.”

As for saying, “All praise is due to Allah Who removed harm from me and granted me well-being” after leaving, it has been narrated in a weak hadith. It should therefore not be attributed to the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, as an established Sunnah. The reliably preserved wording is “Ghufranak.”

Leading With the Left Foot When Entering and the Right When Leaving

The jurists of the four schools considered it recommended to lead with the left foot when entering the restroom and the right foot when leaving, because the right is given precedence in honored matters and the left in matters involving the removal of impurity. There is no specific authentic marfu hadith assigning a particular foot for entering the restroom, so this should not be treated as a condition or an obligation.

Covering the Awrah, Facing the Qiblah, and Using the Left Hand

Concealment and Covering the Awrah

A Muslim must conceal himself from people’s sight, guard his awrah, avoid uncovering it before there is a need, and not relieve himself where anyone can see him. This is part of the modesty taught by the Shariah.

Facing or Turning One’s Back to the Qiblah

Abu Ayyub al-Ansari, may Allah be pleased with him, reported that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

"إِذَا أَتَيْتُمُ الغَائِطَ فَلَا تَسْتَقْبِلُوا القِبْلَةَ وَلَا تَسْتَدْبِرُوهَا، وَلَكِنْ شَرِّقُوا أَوْ غَرِّبُوا".

Meaning: “When you go to relieve yourselves, do not face the Qiblah or turn your backs toward it; rather, face east or west.”

Agreed upon by al-Bukhari and Muslim.

It is also authentically reported that Abdullah ibn Umar, may Allah be pleased with him and his father, said:

"رَقِيتُ يَوْمًا عَلَى بَيْتِ حَفْصَةَ، فَرَأَيْتُ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ عَلَى حَاجَتِهِ مُسْتَقْبِلَ الشَّامِ، مُسْتَدْبِرَ الكَعْبَةِ".

Meaning: “One day I climbed onto the house of Hafsah and saw the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, relieving himself while facing Syria and with his back toward the Ka‘bah.”

Agreed upon by al-Bukhari and Muslim.

According to the majority of scholars, facing the Qiblah or turning one’s back toward it while relieving oneself outdoors is prohibited. Inside buildings, the majority permitted both directions by reconciling the hadith of Abu Ayyub with the hadith of Ibn Umar, may Allah be pleased with them. Other scholars understood the prohibition as general, applying both outdoors and inside buildings. It is better for a Muslim to avoid facing the Qiblah or turning his back toward it in both situations whenever reasonably possible, without hardship or waswas. If he finds a built toilet positioned otherwise and cannot turn away, he may follow the majority view that permits this inside a building.

Not Using the Right Hand to Remove Impurity

Abu Qatadah, may Allah be pleased with him, reported that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

"لَا يُمْسِكَنَّ أَحَدُكُمْ ذَكَرَهُ بِيَمِينِهِ وَهُوَ يَبُولُ، وَلَا يَتَمَسَّحْ مِنَ الخَلَاءِ بِيَمِينِهِ، وَلَا يَتَنَفَّسْ فِي الإِنَاءِ".

Meaning: “None of you should hold his private part with his right hand while urinating, clean himself after relieving himself with his right hand, or breathe into a vessel.”

Agreed upon by al-Bukhari and Muslim.

The left hand is therefore used for istinja and removing impurity, while the right hand is kept from direct contact with filth.

Istinja and Purification Without Waswas

Cleaning With Water or Wiping

It is permissible to perform istinja with water, and it is permissible to perform istijmar with tissues or similar materials that remove impurity. If a person limits himself to wiping, the cleansing wipes must not be fewer than three. He adds more until the area is clean, and if he goes beyond three, it is recommended to finish with an odd number.

Salman al-Farisi, may Allah be pleased with him, reported:

"لَقَدْ نَهَانَا أَنْ نَسْتَقْبِلَ القِبْلَةَ لِغَائِطٍ أَوْ بَوْلٍ، أَوْ أَنْ نَسْتَنْجِيَ بِاليَمِينِ، أَوْ أَنْ نَسْتَنْجِيَ بِأَقَلَّ مِنْ ثَلَاثَةِ أَحْجَارٍ، أَوْ أَنْ نَسْتَنْجِيَ بِرَجِيعٍ أَوْ بِعَظْمٍ".

Meaning: “He forbade us from facing the Qiblah while defecating or urinating, cleaning ourselves with the right hand, cleaning ourselves with fewer than three stones, or cleaning ourselves with dung or bone.”

Narrated by Muslim.

The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, also said:

"مَنِ اسْتَجْمَرَ فَلْيُوتِرْ".

Meaning: “Whoever cleans himself by wiping should use an odd number.”

Agreed upon by al-Bukhari and Muslim.

Avoiding Repetition and Waswas

It is not legislated to repeat washing after impurity has been removed merely because of doubt, as this opens the door to waswas. The basic ruling after ordinary cleaning is purity, so a Muslim should not pay attention to imagined doubts.

Avoiding Impurity and Protecting People’s Rights

Taking Moderate Care to Avoid Urine

The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, passed by two graves and said:

"إِنَّهُمَا لَيُعَذَّبَانِ، وَمَا يُعَذَّبَانِ فِي كَبِيرٍ، أَمَّا أَحَدُهُمَا فَكَانَ لَا يَسْتَتِرُ مِنَ البَوْلِ، وَأَمَّا الآخَرُ فَكَانَ يَمْشِي بِالنَّمِيمَةِ".

Meaning: “They are being punished, but they are not being punished for something they regarded as great. One of them did not protect himself from urine, while the other used to spread malicious gossip.”

Agreed upon by al-Bukhari and Muslim. Some narrations state: "لَا يَسْتَنْزِهُ مِنَ البَوْلِ" meaning, “He did not keep himself clean from urine.”

A Muslim should take care that urine does not touch his body or clothing, then wash whatever it touches. This does not mean repeatedly inspecting, squeezing, or burdening oneself. Legislated precaution is based on certainty and moderation, not waswas.

Avoiding People’s Paths and Shaded Sitting Places

The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

"اتَّقُوا اللَّعَّانَيْنِ". قالوا: وما اللعانان يا رسول الله؟ قال: "الَّذِي يَتَخَلَّى فِي طَرِيقِ النَّاسِ أَوْ فِي ظِلِّهِمْ".

Meaning: “Beware of the two acts that bring people’s curses.” They asked, “What are the two acts that bring people’s curses, O Messenger of Allah?” He replied: “Relieving oneself in people’s pathways or in their shaded resting places.”

Narrated by Muslim.

It is therefore impermissible to relieve oneself in people’s pathways, their sitting or shaded places, or any public place where they would be harmed by its pollution.

Not Polluting Standing Water

The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

"لَا يَبُولَنَّ أَحَدُكُمْ فِي المَاءِ الدَّائِمِ الَّذِي لَا يَجْرِي، ثُمَّ يَغْتَسِلُ فِيهِ".

Meaning: “None of you should urinate in standing water that does not flow and then bathe in it.”

Agreed upon by al-Bukhari and Muslim.

This protects the water and prevents it from being made impure or spoiled for others.

Avoiding Speech Without a Need

It is proper etiquette to avoid speaking without need and to refrain from mentioning Allah verbally while directly relieving oneself. If there is a necessity, such as warning someone of danger, one may speak as much as needed. Remembering Allah in the heart is unobjectionable.

Abdullah ibn Umar, may Allah be pleased with him and his father, reported:

"أَنَّ رَجُلًا مَرَّ، وَرَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَبُولُ، فَسَلَّمَ، فَلَمْ يَرُدَّ عَلَيْهِ".

Meaning: “A man passed by while the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, was urinating. The man greeted him with salam, but he did not return the greeting.”

Narrated by Muslim.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Saying the entrance supplication after entering the restroom instead of before entering.
2. Attributing weak supplications or invented phrases to the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, as established Sunnahs.
3. Neglecting to say “Ghufranak” after leaving despite its ease and authentic basis.
4. Using the right hand for istinja without an excuse.
5. Wasting water or repeating the cleaning because of doubt and waswas.
6. Uncovering the awrah before reaching privacy or being careless about the privacy of the place.
7. Polluting public facilities or leaving impurity there in a way that harms others.