However, other evidence supports the legality of pronouncing the basmala when one enters the lavatory. It is the marfūʿ report of ʿAlī (may Allah be pleased with him) in the wording:

“The veil between the jinn’s eyes and the nakedness of the children of Adam, when any of you enters the privy, is his saying: Bismillah (‘In the name of Allah’).”

It was recorded by al-Tirmidhī (2/504, Aḥmad Shākir ed.) and Ibn Mājah (1/127–128). Al-Tirmidhī graded it weak, yet Mughaltāy leaned toward its authenticity, as al-Manāwī notes. A supporting report from Anas is found in al-Ṭabarānī through two routes. Accordingly, the ḥadith is at least ḥasan. I have traced all its lines of transmission, discussed their strengths and weaknesses, and set this out in al-Irwāʾ, no. 50; whoever wishes may refer to it.

Be aware that none of these narrations—or any others—contain the audible recitation mentioned by the author, may Allah preserve him; this clarification is therefore in order.

His statement under heading no. 4 reads: “…and the ḥadith of Abū Saʿīd who said, ‘I heard the Prophet ﷺ say: “Two men must not go out to relieve themselves, exposing their private parts and conversing, for Allah detests that.”’ It is related by Aḥmad, Abū Dāwūd, and Ibn Mājah. On its face the ḥadith indicates that speaking is forbidden, yet consensus has shifted the prohibition from unlawful to merely disliked.”

I respond: The ḥadith is weak; its chain is unsound and suffers from two defects.

First: it is transmitted by ʿIkrima ibn ʿAmmār from Yaḥyā ibn Abī Kathīr from Hilāl ibn ʿIyāḍ from Abū Saʿīd, and the scholars have criticised ʿIkrima’s reports from Yaḥyā in particular. Abū Dāwūd said, “His narrations from Yaḥyā ibn Abī Kathīr are inconsistent.” Al-Ḥāfiẓ said in Taqrīb al-Tahdhīb, “Reliable yet prone to error; his transmissions from Yaḥyā are inconsistent, and he possessed no written compilation.”