the scholars said: If he can place it between his legs and wipe himself with it, he should do so; otherwise, he may take it with his right hand and wipe himself with his left. (1)

Facing the two luminaries; and it is forbidden to face the qiblah or turn one’s back to it …

His statement, “facing the two luminaries,” means that it is disliked to face the sun or the moon while relieving oneself. However, there is no sound evidence for this; rather, it is based on the reasoning that they contain Allah’s light. Yet the light they contain is not the Light of Allah, which is one of His attributes; rather, it is created light. This reasoning is open to question, for it would entail that facing the stars, for example, is also disliked. If we were to accept this, we would have to say that facing anything possessing light or illumination is disliked.

Moreover, this reasoning is contradicted by the Prophet’s saying, peace and blessings be upon him: “Do not face the qiblah or turn your backs to it when urinating or defecating; rather, turn east or west.” (2)

It is well known that whoever turns east or west while the sun is rising will be facing it; likewise, if he turns west when the sun is setting. Yet the Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him, did not say: “Unless the sun or moon is in front of you, then do not do so.”

Thus, the correct view is that it is not disliked, due to the absence of sound evidence—and indeed because evidence establishing its permissibility exists.

His statement, “and it is forbidden to face the qiblah or turn one’s back to it,” is based on the hadith of Abu Ayyub, may Allah be pleased with him, in which the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: “Do not face the qiblah when urinating or defecating, nor turn your backs to it; rather, turn east or west.” Abu Ayyub said: “When we came to Syria, we found lavatories that had been built facing the Ka‘bah,”