2/17. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 266a — Ibn Umar’s Report on Facing Bait al-Maqdis
Cleaning oneself after relieving oneself
Hadith About Qibla and Bait al-Maqdis in Toilet Etiquette
Sahih Muslim : 266a
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 266a
حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ مَسْلَمَةَ بْنِ قَعْنَبٍ، حَدَّثَنَا سُلَيْمَانُ، - يَعْنِي ابْنَ بِلاَلٍ - عَنْ يَحْيَى بْنِ سَعِيدٍ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ يَحْيَى، عَنْ عَمِّهِ، وَاسِعِ بْنِ حَبَّانَ، قَالَ كُنْتُ أُصَلِّي فِي الْمَسْجِدِ وَعَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ عُمَرَ مُسْنِدٌ ظَهْرَهُ إِلَى الْقِبْلَةِ فَلَمَّا قَضَيْتُ صَلاَتِي انْصَرَفْتُ إِلَيْهِ مِنْ شِقِّي فَقَالَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ يَقُولُ نَاسٌ إِذَا قَعَدْتَ لِلْحَاجَةِ تَكُونُ لَكَ فَلاَ تَقْعُدْ مُسْتَقْبِلَ الْقِبْلَةِ وَلاَ بَيْتِ الْمَقْدِسِ - قَالَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ - وَلَقَدْ رَقِيتُ عَلَى ظَهْرِ بَيْتٍ فَرَأَيْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَاعِدًا عَلَى لَبِنَتَيْنِ مُسْتَقْبِلاً بَيْتَ الْمَقْدِسِ لِحَاجَتِهِ .
Wasi' b. Habban Narrated from:
I was offering my prayer in the mosque and Abdullah b. Umar was sitting there reclining with his back towards the Qibla. After completing my prayer. I went to him from one side. Abdullah said: People say when you go to the latrine, you should neither turn your face towards the Qibla nor towards Bait-ul-Maqdis. 'Abdullah said (farther): I went up to the roof of the house and saw the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) squatting on two bricks for relieving himself with his face towards Bait-al-Maqdis.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 266aIn-book reference : Book 2, Hadith 78USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 2, Hadith 509
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 266a
This hadith records a report from Abdullah b. Umar about what he personally saw. Wasi' b. Habban says he was praying in the mosque while Ibn Umar was sitting with his back toward the Qibla. After the prayer, Ibn Umar mentioned that people said one should not sit facing the Qibla or Bait al-Maqdis when going to the latrine. Then he said he went up to a roof and saw the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) sitting on two bricks for relieving himself, facing Bait al-Maqdis. The explanation should stay with the text: this narration preserves Ibn Umar’s observation and the direction he described.
What we learn from this hadith
- Ibn Umar reported what he personally saw.
- The hadith mentions Bait al-Maqdis in the discussion of direction.
- The report shows that companions preserved details of Prophetic practice.
- The narration should be read with its exact wording and setting.
