Purification from material impurities can be achieved by purifying the body, clothes, and the place of worship from all kinds of dirt. One should especially pay attention to the manners in the bathroom. In this context some of the principles of manners existing in the teachings of the Prophet (pbuh) are as follows:
1. When going to the bathroom, one should take off ornaments, on which have some sacred inscriptions, like the name of Allah or name of the Prophet (pbuh); because when the Prophet (pbuh) entered the privy, he removed his ring, on which kalimat al-tawhid was written. (Abu Dawud, Taharah, 10)
2. Based on the recommendations of the Prophet (pbuh) when entering the privy, one should say:
اَللّهُمَّ اِنِّى اَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنَ الْخُبْثِ وَالْخَبَائِثِ
“O Allah, I seek refuge in You from wicked and noxious things.” (Muslim, Haid, 122)
And when getting out, one should make the following supplication:
اَلْحَمْدُ للهِ الَّذِى أَذْهَبَ عَنِّى الأَذَى وَعَافَانِى
“Praises be to Allah, who relieved me from this burden and bestowed wellness upon me.” (Ibn Majah, Taharah, 10)
3. One should not turn towards the qiblah when easing oneself or urinating. Allah’s Messenger (pbuh) made the following warning in this regard: “When one of you goes to the bathroom, he/she should not face the qiblah at the time of easing or urinating.” (Bukhari, Wudu, 10)
4. One should not relieve oneself standing; for such an act can cause drops of urine to spatter on one’s body or clothes. Aisha (r.anha) stated that Allah’s Messenger had never relieved himself standing. Ibn Abbas (r. anhuma) reported:
The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) happened to pass by two graves and said:
“Both of them are being tormented, but they are not tormented for a grievous sin. One of them carried people’s words against each other and the other did not keep himself safe from being defiled by urine.”
He then called for a fresh twig and split it into two parts, and planted them on each grave and then said:
“Perhaps, their punishment be lessened as long as these twigs remain fresh.” (Muslim, Taharah, 111)
It is also a fact that relieving oneself standing may also cause health problems such as some kidney problems.[1]
5. One should not hold their private parts with their right hand when relieving themselves, and should clean themselves with their left hand afterwards. This is stated in a prophetic saying: “Whenever anyone of you makes water he should not hold or clean his private parts with his right hand.” (Bukhari, Wudu, 19)
6. If it is possible, after relieving oneself the cleaning should be done with water. This was what the Prophet (pbuh) preferred. (Bukhari, Wudu, 15-17) We see that the people of the city of Quba are praised by Allah the Almighty in the Qur’an. According to the narration, when the verse: “In it are men who love to be purified; and Allah loves those who make themselves pure.” (al-Tawbah 9; 108) was revealed, Allah’s Messenger (pbuh) went to the residents of Quba and asked:
“O people of Ansar! Allah the Almighty praises your purification. How do you cleanse yourselves?” They replied:
“We perform minor ablution before prayer, we perform major ablution, when we are in a state of canonical impurity, we perform major ablution and we cleanse ourselves after urinating with water.” Upon this Allah’s Apostle (pbuh) told them:
“This is why you are praised. Continue to do this.” (Ibn Majah, Taharah, 28)
Allah the Almighty’s praises for the people of Quba in this verse, and the encouraging words of the Prophet (pbuh) clearly show that performing purification is among the Islamic manners of purification. Using paper or other materials are not enough to perform a proper cleansing. Wiping down after cleansing with water is also a nice thing to do.
7. Not to talk or not to show private parts to others are also among the manners. Allah’s Messenger (pbuh) stated that Allah, the Great and Majestic, becomes wrathful at those who are not careful about these actions. (Abu Dawud, Taharah, 7)
8. Also, among the manner for males is not to perform ablution right after urinating and to wait for a while; because this makes sure that nothing is left in the urinary bladder. Thus, minor ablution will not be damaged. (Ibn Majah, Taharah, 19) In this context, Allah’s Messenger (pbuh) also advised men to hold their penis and squeeze it from back to front three times after relieving themselves. (Ibn Maja, Taharah, 19; Ibn Hanbal, IV, 347)
9. Those who are at open places should avoid relieving themselves on roads, under the shades, at picnic places, in stagnant waters, and on animal and insect nests. Abu Huraira (r.a.) reported:
“The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said:
“Be on your guard against two things which provoke Divine cursing.”
The companions present there said:
“O Messenger of Allah, what are those things which provoke cursing?” He said:
“Easing on the thoroughfares or under the shades where they take shelter and rest.” (Muslim, Taharah, 68)
Jabir (r.a.) said that the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) forbade urinating in stagnant water. (Muslim, Taharah, 94)
Abdullah ibn Sarjis stated that the Prophet (pbuh) prohibited urinating in animal and insect holes. (Abu Dawud, Taharah, 16)
[1] According to expert statements, when one relieves oneself in a squatting position, the urinary bladder completely relaxes and releases everything in it together with urine. Whereas, since relieving oneself standing strains the bladder and it causes some of the material to block the urinary tracts which causes infections.