Manners of visiting the toilet and keeping one’s nakedness from the sights of the people.

Yaʿlā (radiyallāhu ʿanhu) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (salallāhu ʿalaihi wasallam) saw a man washing in public without wearing a lower garment. So he (salallāhu ʿalaihi wasallam) ascended the pulpit (minbar), praised Allah, extolled Him and then said:

“Indeed Allah is Modest (Ḥayyiyun) and He is One who conceals (Sitteerun), He loves modesty (al-hayā’) and He loves concealment (as-satar). So when any of you takes a bath, he should conceal himself.” (Abu Dāwūd no. 4012, An-Nasā’ī no. 406, Ahmad 4/224)

Meaning that he should bathe in private without revealing his ʿawrah. The ʿawrah of a man is from (and includes) the naval to the knee. All of the body of the woman is ʿawrah except for her face and hands. The ʿawrah of a woman to a woman is what is normally revealed while she performs ablution (wudū’).

ʿAbdur-Rahmān Ibn Abī Qurād (radiyallāhu ʿanhu) narrated: “I went out with Allah’s Messenger (salallāhu ʿalaihi wasallam) to a place where could relieve himself. And when he intended to relieve himself, he would go far away [from view].” (An-Nasā’ī no. 16, Ibn Mājah no. 334, Ahmad 3/443)

Jābir (radiyallāhu ʿanhu) said: “We went out on a journey with the Prophet (salallāhu ʿlaihi wasallam) and he would not relieve himself until he had disappeared and could not be seen by anyone.” (Ibn Mājah no. 335, Abu Dāwud no. 2)

Anas (radiyallāhu ʿanhu) said: “I was once with the Prophet (salallāhu ʿalaihi wasallam) on a journey, and he went far away to relieve himself – then he returned and called for some water and he performed wudū’.” (Ibn Mājah, no. 332)

Anas (radiyallāhu ʿanhu) said: “Whenever the Prophet (salallāhu ʿalaihi wasallam) wanted to relieve himself, he would not lift his garments until he had lowered himself close to the ground.” (At-Tirmidhī no. 14, Abu Dāwud from Ibn ʿUmar no. 14)

ʿAbdullāh Ibn Jaʿfar (radiyallāhu ʿanhu) said: “The Prophet (salallāhu ʿalaihi wasallam) would like the concealment offered by going far away or a cluster of date palms when relieving himself (i.e., visiting the toilet).” (Muslim no. 342, Abu Dāwud no. 2549, Ibn Mājah no. 340, Ahmad no. 3/204)

A man should not use urinals in public toilets because that exposes him to the sights of other men.

Abu Khadeejah ʿAbdul-Wāhid.