1/3. Chapter:
Sunan Abi Dawud 4 — Dua Before Entering the Toilet
What A Person Should Say When He Enters The Area Wherein He Relieves Himself
Dua Before Entering Toilet Hadith
Sunan Abi Dawud : 4
Sunan Abi DawudHadith Number 4
حَدَّثَنَا مُسَدَّدُ بْنُ مُسَرْهَدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا حَمَّادُ بْنُ زَيْدٍ، وَعَبْدُ الْوَارِثِ، عَنْ عَبْدِ الْعَزِيزِ بْنِ صُهَيْبٍ، عَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ، قَالَ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم إِذَا دَخَلَ الْخَلاَءَ - قَالَ عَنْ حَمَّادٍ قَالَ " اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ " . وَقَالَ عَنْ عَبْدِ الْوَارِثِ - قَالَ " أَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ مِنَ الْخُبُثِ وَالْخَبَائِثِ " . قَالَ أَبُو دَاوُد رَوَاهُ شُعْبَةُ عَنْ عَبْدِ الْعَزِيزِ اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ وَقَالَ مَرَّةً أَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ و قَالَ وُهَيْبٌ فَلْيَتَعَوَّذْ بِاللَّهِ
Anas bin Malik Narrated from:
When the Apostle of Allaah (sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam) entered the toilet, he used to say (before entering): "O Allaah, I seek refuge in Thee." This is according to the version of Hammad. 'Abd al-Warith has another version :"I seek refuge in Allaah from male and female devils."
Reference : Sunan Abi Dawud 4In-book reference : Book 1, Hadith 4English translation : Book 1, Hadith 4
Summary of Sunan Abi Dawud Hadith 4
This hadith teaches the toilet dua used before entering the toilet. Anas ibn Malik reports that when the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم entered the toilet, he used to say, “O Allah, I seek refuge in Thee.” Another wording says, “I seek refuge in Allah from male and female devils.” The heart of this narration is seeking Allah’s protection at a private and vulnerable time. The hadith about entering toilet dua is short, but it is full of meaning. It shows that a Muslim can remember Allah through a simple supplication before entering. The explanation should not go beyond the text. The text clearly points to refuge, protection, and the Sunnah wording.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم sought refuge in Allah before entering the toilet.
- A short dua can carry a clear meaning of protection.
- Different reported wordings in the text share the same main idea.
