1/23. Chapter:
Sunan Ibn Majah 339 — Concealment Behind Trees
Looking for a place to defecate or urinate
Hadith About Concealment Behind Trees When Relieving Oneself
Sunan Ibn Majah : 339
Sunan Ibn MajahHadith Number 339
حَدَّثَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا وَكِيعٌ، عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ، عَنِ الْمِنْهَالِ بْنِ عَمْرٍو، عَنْ يَعْلَى بْنِ مُرَّةَ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، قَالَ كُنْتُ مَعَ النَّبِيِّ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ فِي سَفَرٍ فَأَرَادَ أَنْ يَقْضِيَ حَاجَتَهُ فَقَالَ لِي " ائْتِ تِلْكَ الأَشَاءَتَيْنِ " . - قَالَ وَكِيعٌ يَعْنِي النَّخْلَ الصِّغَارَ . قَالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ الْقِصَارَ - " فَقُلْ لَهُمَا إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ يَأْمُرُكُمَا أَنْ تَجْتَمِعَا " . فَاجْتَمَعَتَا فَاسْتَتَرَ بِهِمَا فَقَضَى حَاجَتَهُ ثُمَّ قَالَ لِي " ائْتِهِمَا فَقُلْ لَهُمَا لِتَرْجِعْ كُلُّ وَاحِدَةٍ مِنْكُمَا إِلَى مَكَانِهَا " . فَقُلْتُ لَهُمَا فَرَجَعَتَا .
Ya'la bin Murrah Narrated from:
It was narrated from Ya'la bin Murrah that his father said: "I was with the Prophet on a journey, and he wanted to relieve himself. He said to me: 'Go to those two small date-palm trees and tell them: "The Messenger of Allah orders you to come together.'" So they came together and he concealed himself behind them, and relieved himself. Then he said to me: 'Go to them and tell them: "Go back, each one of you, to your places.'" So I said that to them and they went back."
Reference : Sunan Ibn Majah 339In-book reference : Book 1, Hadith 73English translation : Vol. 1, Book 1, Hadith 339
Summary of Sunan Ibn Majah Hadith 339
This hadith about concealment behind trees when relieving oneself is narrated from Ya'la bin Murrah through his father. He says he was with the Prophet on a journey when the Prophet wanted to relieve himself. The Prophet told him to go to two small date-palm trees and tell them that the Messenger of Allah ordered them to come together. They came together, and the Prophet concealed himself behind them and relieved himself. Then he told him to command them to return, and they returned to their places. The narration’s main lesson in toilet etiquette is concealment. It also reports a special event, so the wording should be kept as it is without adding extra claims.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Prophet sought concealment before relieving himself.
- The narration mentions two small date-palm trees coming together by his command.
- Afterward, the trees returned to their places as stated in the report.
- The practical theme of the hadith is privacy during a private need.
