1

Explanation of Umdat-ul-Akm and Umdat-ul-Fiqh

Answering the Call of Nature 3

" "

One should not face the direction of the sun or the moon
(while answering the call of nature).

Shaikh-ul-Islm Ibn Qudmah continues with:

The proof presented for this ruling is reported by Imm al-Bukhr

on the authority of Al-Mughrah Bin Shubah
:
On the day of Ibrhms death (the son of Raslullh ), the sun
eclipsed and the people said that the eclipse was due to the death of
Ibrhm
. Raslullh said: "The sun and the moon are two
signs amongst the signs of Allh. They do not eclipse because of
someones death or life. So when you see them, invoke Allh and pray
till the eclipse is clear. [ 1 ]
Since the sun and the moon have been honored as being among the signs of
Allh, many of the scholars of Islm considered it disrespectful to be directly
facing them while urinating or defecating. Yet, if someone is in a covered
toilet, this would not affect him or her. This is only for someone answering the
call of nature in the open.
This is mentioned in the books of all the four well-known Madhhib. For
example: in the Shfi book Umdah as-Slik wa Uddah an-Nsik by Imm
Amad bin Naqb al-Mir or the famous anaf book Radd alMutr al ad-Dur al-Mukhtr by Imm Ibn bidn .
Upon deep examination of this proof, many of the great scholars of Islm have
skipped this in their respected books. They did not find a link between facing
the sun and the moon while answering the call of nature and the adth of AlMughrah Bin Shubah
. For example: Imm al-ajjw did
not mention this in Zd al-Mustaqni nor did Shaikh Ibn Uthaymn
in his Shar al-Mumti al Zd al-Mustaqni. Hence, this is more to do with
good etiquettes and showing respect to the signs of Allh yet we cannot say it
is legislated in the Islmic law, due to the lack of clear evidences.
1

a al-Bukhr adth # 170

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Lesson # 18

Shaikh-ul-Islm Ibn Qudmah continues with:

"
"

"

He must not face or turn his back towards al-Qiblah,
because of the saying of Raslullh :

Do not face al-Qiblah, while defecating or urinating,

and do not turn your backs to it.
That would be permissible indoors.
Unlike the earlier mentioned recommendation, this is a strict guideline based
upon clear and authentic proof. Imm Ibn Qudmah quotes the
proof for this ruling in the matn of al-Umdah itself. The proof is the clear and
authentic adth where Raslullh said:

"

"

If one of you sits to answer the call of nature, then he should not face
al-Qiblah, nor turn his back towards it. [ 2 ]
This adth is very clear and it is reported in one of the two most authentic
books of adth, a Muslim. It is also supported by other authentic adth,
such as what is reported by Ab Ayyb al-Anr
, Raslullh
said:

"
"

If you need to relieve yourself, then do not face al-Qiblah

nor turn your back towards it-whether you are urinating or
defecating-rather face to the east or to the west. [ 3 ]

2
3

a Muslim adth # 389

a Muslim adth # 389

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Lesson # 18

Explanation of Umdat-ul-Akm and Umdat-ul-Fiqh

Shaikh al-Islm Ibn Taimyah explained this issue in his Shar of alUmdah stating:
This is stating that facing any direction other than the east or the west
would mean that one is either facing al-Qiblah or turning ones back
towards it.
To properly understand this a adth one must understand the location
where this incident occurred. Ab Ayyb al-Anr
, is from the
people of Madnah, hence Raslullh was addressing the people of
Madnah which is directly north of Makkah. This would indicate that al-Qiblah
was south for them. Hence, if the people were to face north or south, they
would ether be facing al-Qiblah or turning their backs to it. Yet if they were to
face the east or the west, they would not be facing al-Qiblah nor would they be
turning their back to it. The following illustration should help the student of
knowledge comprehend this adth:

Many authentic adth prove this ruling. Hence, it is clear that when one is
out in the open they should not urinate or defecate while facing or turning
their backs towards al-Qiblah. Yet what about the issue of answering the call
of nature while inside a building?
According to the anaf madh-hab one may not face nor turn ones back
towards al-Qiblah, regardless of being out in the open or in a building. This is

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Lesson # 18

the standard opinion of the anaf madh-hab stated in Mukhtaar al-Qudr

and in the shiyyah of Imm Ibn bidn . [ 4 ]
They quote the above reported a Adth as proof. While the Shfi,
Mlik and anbal Madhhib all agree that this prohibition is only for the one
answering the call of nature out in the open and not for the one who is
screened from al-Qiblah. The proof they present for their ruling the following
a adth reported my both Imm al-Bukhr and Imm Muslim on the
authority of Abdullh bin Umar
:

"



"

One day I climbed up on the roof of the house of afsah

,
and Raslullh was relieving himself, facing towards ash-Shm,
with His back towards the Kabah. [ 5 ]
Due to partisanship, some ignorant people, along with some others who have
studied Islmic knowledge, tried to reject this a adth, saying that if one
was facing ash-Shm, he would be facing east of Al-Qiblah. This is again due to
ignorance since ash-Shm is north of al-Madnah.

4
5

shiyyah Ibn bidn Volume # 1 Page # 445.

a al-Bukhr adth # 144 and a Muslim adth # 267.

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Lesson # 18

Explanation of Umdat-ul-Akm and Umdat-ul-Fiqh

In fact this a adth is also supported by many other a Adth such as

what is reported by Imm Amad , Ab Dwd , atTirmidh and Ibn Mjah on the authority of Jbir bin
Abdullh
:
An-Nab forbade us to face towards al-Qiblah when urinating,
then I saw him one year before He died, facing towards it.
Those who lack in knowledge may try to make it seem as though there is a
contradiction between these a Adth. Yet one whom Allh blesses with
insight and knowledge will know that there is in-fact no contradiction at all.
This issue is clarified by the following a adth reported by Ab Dwd
and al-kim in his a on the authority of Marwn alAfar who said:
I saw Abdullh bin Umar
making his camel kneel, facing
towards al-Qiblah and urinating in that direction. I asked: Oh Ab
AbdirRamn, is that not forbidden? He
replied: It is only
forbidden to do that out in the open, but if there is something between
you and al-Qiblah that conceals you, there is nothing wrong with it.
This clear and authentic adth makes it crystal clear that there is no
contradiction between the different Adth on this subject. In addition, it is a
great proof for the opinion of the majority of the scholars of Islm who have
stated that it is not permissible to answer the call of nature outside in the open
while facing al-Qiblah, while it is not forbidden for the one who is screened by a
wall or inside a building. This is the conclusion of Imm Ibn Qudmah
after presenting all the different views and proofs in al-Mughn. [ 6 ]

Al-Mughn Volume # 1 Page # 107.

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Lesson # 18