The procedure and etiquette of relieving oneself

Before you go in

1. 1Go to the toilet, or somewhere private and out of sight if you are outside.
2. 2Take stones or something to clean with, if you need to.
3. 3Do not bring in anything with Allah's name, the Prophet's ﷺ name, or Quran on it.
4. 4Do not go in with your head uncovered.
5. 5Say the dua at the door, then step in with your left foot first.

While you are in there

1. 1Only uncover as much of yourself as you need to.
2. 2Do not face the qiblah, and do not turn your back to it either.
3. 3Do not talk, and do not recite anything.
4. 4Do not spit, blow your nose, or look around more than you need to.
5. 5Be as quick as you can.

How many wipes

1. 1Wipe at least three times, even if one wipe already looks like it did the job.
2. 2Use three separate stones or pieces of tissue, or three clean sides of one.
3. 3Start each wipe on a spot that is still clean.
4. 4If three is not enough, keep going until it is clean.

If you only have water

1. 1Pour some water first to take most of the impurity away.
2. 2Then keep pouring with your right hand while your left hand cleans, both at the same time.

On entering

1. 1Recite the dua upon reaching the door.
2. 2Enter with the left foot first.
3. 3Uncover only as much of the body as is actually needed, and only once about to sit.
4. 4Sit with the feet slightly apart, leaning on the left foot.
5. 5Avoid facing the qiblah or turning the back towards it.
6. 6Keep the mind on the task, and avoid any religious conversation or discussion.

In colder weather, men reverse the sequence and begin from the back instead.

The number of wipes

1. 1Both things are required when cleaning with a dry substance alone: that the filth be removed, and that one wipe three times, even where a single wipe would have cleaned it.
2. 2The three are made with three pieces, or with three sides of one piece.
3. 3Each stroke must begin at a point on the skin that is still free of impurity.
4. 4Where three does not remove it, one repeats until it is cleaned away, that being the point of the act.

On finishing and leaving

1. 1Clean using stones in the order above.
2. 2Stand up and cover the body.
3. 3Exit with the right foot first, reciting the dua below.

Where only water is available

1. 1Pour water first, to carry away most of the filth.
2. 2Then pour with the right hand while the fingers of the left remove what remains, the pouring and the cleaning going on together.

Places where it is forbidden to relieve oneself

1. 1Near a mosque or an Eidgah.
2. 2In a cemetery.
3. 3Among grazing animals.
4. 4Near water sources such as rivers, wells or ponds, even if the impurity would not actually reach the water.
5. 5In cultivated fields.
6. 6Under fruit-bearing trees where people gather.
7. 7On pathways.
8. 8Near gatherings of people.
9. 9Beneath water spouts.
10. 10In areas set aside for ablution or bathing.
11. 11Facing the qiblah, or with the back turned towards it, whether indoors or in the open.
12. 12In burrows.
13. 13Against the wind.
14. 14On hard ground where splashing is likely.
15. 15On piles of filth.
16. 16In a low area facing an elevated spot.

Acts disliked while relieving oneself, without a valid excuse

1. 1Relieving oneself while standing, lying down, or completely undressed.
2. 2Leaving the head uncovered.
3. 3Facing the qiblah, or turning the back towards it.
4. 4Carrying any item bearing sacred text: Quranic verses, hadith, or the names of Allah and the Prophet ﷺ.
5. 5Reciting any such text.
6. 6Touching or cleaning the private parts with the right hand.
7. 7Disregarding the proper etiquette of cleanliness.

On entering

1. 1The duʿā is recited on reaching the door.
2. 2Entry is made with the left foot.
3. 3Only so much of the body is uncovered as is needed, and only once about to sit.
4. 4One sits with the feet slightly apart, the weight resting on the left foot.
5. 5Facing the qiblah, or turning the back to it, is avoided.
6. 6The mind is kept on the task; religious discussion is avoided entirely.

In cold weather the sequence for men is reversed, beginning instead from the back.

The number of strokes

1. 1Cleaning with a dry substance alone requires both the removal of the najāsah and three strokes, even where one would have sufficed to clean.
2. 2The three are made with three pieces, or with three faces of a single piece.
3. 3Each stroke begins at a point of skin still free of najāsah.
4. 4Where three do not remove it, they are repeated until it is cleaned away, that being the object of the act.

On finishing and leaving

1. 1Cleaning with the stones proceeds in the sequence above.
2. 2One stands and covers the body.
3. 3Exit is made with the right foot, reciting the duʿā below.

Where water alone is available

1. 1Water is poured first, to carry off the bulk of the najāsah.
2. 2Thereafter one pours with the right hand while the fingers of the left remove what remains, the two done simultaneously.

Places forbidden for relieving oneself

1. 1Near a mosque or an ʿīdgāh.
2. 2In a cemetery.
3. 3Among grazing livestock.
4. 4Near water sources (rivers, wells, ponds), even where the najāsah itself would not reach the water.
5. 5In cultivated fields.
6. 6Beneath fruit-bearing trees where people gather.
7. 7On pathways.
8. 8Near gatherings.
9. 9Beneath water spouts.
10. 10In places set aside for wuḍūʾ or ghusl.
11. 11Facing the qiblah, or with the back to it, indoors or in the open alike.
12. 12In burrows.
13. 13Against the wind.
14. 14On hard ground where splashing is likely.
15. 15On heaps of filth.
16. 16In a low spot facing raised ground.

Acts makrūh while relieving oneself, absent a valid excuse

1. 1Relieving oneself standing, reclining, or entirely unclothed.
2. 2Leaving the head uncovered.
3. 3Facing the qiblah, or turning the back to it.
4. 4Carrying any item inscribed with sacred text: Qurʼanic verses, hadith, or the names of Allah and the Prophet ﷺ.
5. 5Reciting any such text.
6. 6Touching or cleaning the private parts with the right hand.
7. 7Disregarding the proper etiquette (ādāb) of cleanliness.