1/21. Chapter:
Sunan Ibn Majah 328 — Avoiding Public Harm
Prohibition of relieving oneself in the middle of the road
Hadith About Avoiding Public Harm When Relieving Oneself
Sunan Ibn Majah : 328
Sunan Ibn MajahHadith Number 328
حَدَّثَنَا حَرْمَلَةُ بْنُ يَحْيَى، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ وَهْبٍ، أَخْبَرَنِي نَافِعُ بْنُ يَزِيدَ، عَنْ حَيْوَةَ بْنِ شُرَيْحٍ، أَنَّ أَبَا سَعِيدٍ الْحِمْيَرِيَّ، حَدَّثَهُ قَالَ كَانَ مُعَاذُ بْنُ جَبَلٍ يَتَحَدَّثُ بِمَا لَمْ يَسْمَعْ أَصْحَابُ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ وَيَسْكُتُ عَمَّا سَمِعُوا فَبَلَغَ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ عَمْرٍو مَا يَتَحَدَّثُ بِهِ فَقَالَ وَاللَّهِ مَا سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ يَقُولُ هَذَا وَأَوْشَكَ مُعَاذٌ أَنْ يَفْتِنَكُمْ فِي الْخَلاَءِ . فَبَلَغَ ذَلِكَ مُعَاذًا فَلَقِيَهُ فَقَالَ مُعَاذٌ يَا عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ عَمْرٍو إِنَّ التَّكْذِيبَ بِحَدِيثٍ عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ نِفَاقٌ وَإِنَّمَا إِثْمُهُ عَلَى مَنْ قَالَهُ لَقَدْ سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ يَقُولُ " اتَّقُوا الْمَلاَعِنَ الثَّلاَثَ الْبَرَازَ فِي الْمَوَارِدِ وَالظِّلِّ وَقَارِعَةِ الطَّرِيقِ " .
Abu Sa'eed Al-Himyari Narrated from:
Mu'adh bin Jabal used to narrate something that the Companions of the Messenger of Allah had not heard, and he used to keep quiet about what they had heard. News of this report reached 'Abdullah bin 'Amr, and he said: "By Allah, I never heard the Messenger of Allah say this, and Mu'adh will put you into difficulty with regard to relieving yourself."News of that reached Mu'adh, so he met with him ('Abdullah). Mu'adh said: "O 'Abdullah! Denying a Hadith from the Messenger of Allah is hypocrisy, and its sn is upon the one who said it (if it is not true). I did indeed hear the Messenger of Allah say: 'Beware of the three things which provoke curses: Relieving oneself in watering places, in places of shade and in the middle of the street.'"
Reference : Sunan Ibn Majah 328In-book reference : Book 1, Hadith 62English translation : Vol. 1, Book 1, Hadith 328
Summary of Sunan Ibn Majah Hadith 328
This hadith about avoiding public harm when relieving oneself teaches respect for shared spaces. Mu'adh bin Jabal reports that he heard the Messenger of Allah say to beware of three things that provoke curses: relieving oneself in watering places, in places of shade, and in the middle of the road. The wording connects toilet etiquette with public manners. It is not only about personal cleanliness; it is also about not harming others where they drink, rest, or pass by. The hadith also shows that Companions discussed reports carefully. The main teaching is clear: a Muslim should avoid making public places dirty or harmful for people.
What we learn from this hadith
- Do not relieve yourself in watering places used by others.
- Do not spoil shaded places where people may rest.
- Do not relieve yourself in the middle of the road.
- Public cleanliness is part of good manners in this narration.
