2/17. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 262a — Qibla, Right Hand, and Istinja Rules
Cleaning oneself after relieving oneself
Toilet Etiquette in Islam: Qibla, Right Hand, and Istinja
Sahih Muslim : 262a
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 262a
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو مُعَاوِيَةَ، وَوَكِيعٌ، عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ، ح وَحَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ يَحْيَى، - وَاللَّفْظُ لَهُ - أَخْبَرَنَا أَبُو مُعَاوِيَةَ، عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ، عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ يَزِيدَ، عَنْ سَلْمَانَ، قَالَ قِيلَ لَهُ قَدْ عَلَّمَكُمْ نَبِيُّكُمْ صلى الله عليه وسلم كُلَّ شَىْءٍ حَتَّى الْخِرَاءَةَ . قَالَ فَقَالَ أَجَلْ لَقَدْ نَهَانَا أَنْ نَسْتَقْبِلَ الْقِبْلَةَ لِغَائِطٍ أَوْ بَوْلٍ أَوْ أَنْ نَسْتَنْجِيَ بِالْيَمِينِ أَوْ أَنْ نَسْتَنْجِيَ بِأَقَلَّ مِنْ ثَلاَثَةِ أَحْجَارٍ أَوْ أَنْ نَسْتَنْجِيَ بِرَجِيعٍ أَوْ بِعَظْمٍ .
Salman Narrated from:
It was said to him: Your Apostle (ﷺ) teaches you about everything, even about excrement. He replied: Yes, he has forbidden us to face the Qibla at the time of excretion or urination, or cleansing with right hand or with less than three pebbles, or with dung or bone.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 262aIn-book reference : Book 2, Hadith 73USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 2, Hadith 504
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 262a
This hadith about toilet etiquette in Islam shows that the Prophet’s guidance reached even private matters. Salman was told that the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) taught them about everything, even excretion. He answered yes, then listed what was forbidden: facing the Qibla while relieving oneself or urinating, cleansing with the right hand, using fewer than three pebbles, and using dung or bone. The wording is practical and direct. It teaches respect for the Qibla, clean habits after using the toilet, and care in what is used for cleansing. The hadith also shows that Islamic purity covers daily life, not only prayer and public worship.
What we learn from this hadith
- Respect for the Qibla is mentioned even during private needs.
- The right hand should not be used for cleansing in this report.
- The hadith mentions a minimum of three pebbles for this form of cleansing.
- Dung and bone are clearly forbidden as cleansing materials.
