remembrance or supplication. In Sahīh Muslim, Ibn Umar—may Allah be pleased with them both—reported: “A man passed by while the Messenger of Allah—peace and blessings be upon him—was urinating and greeted him, but he did not respond.” 1 This hadith indicates that a Muslim should not speak while relieving himself, for the Prophet—peace and blessings be upon him—did not respond to him at all. Nor should he engage in any form of remembrance or supplication, since the greeting of peace is itself remembrance and supplication, yet the Prophet—peace and blessings be upon him—did not return this man’s greeting.

These, then, are some of the important manners of relieving oneself that Islam has commended and the Sacred Law has encouraged. They demonstrate the perfection, excellence, and beauty of this religion.

Furthermore, when a Muslim leaves the privy, it is recommended that he say, “I seek Your forgiveness.” Imam Ahmad and the compilers of the Sunan collections narrated that Āishah—may Allah be pleased with her—said: “Whenever the Prophet—peace and blessings be upon him—left the privy, he would say, ‘I seek Your forgiveness.’” 2

Regarding the words “I seek Your forgiveness” in this context, one explanation states: “Fearing that he has fallen short in giving thanks for this tremendous blessing—Allah having fed him, enabled him to digest the food, and then facilitated its passage—he recognizes that his gratitude falls short of what this blessing deserves, and so seeks to remedy that deficiency by asking for forgiveness.” 3

O Allah, forgive our sins and help us to obey You, O Possessor of Majesty and Honor.