84. The seven compilers all relate from Abū Ayyūb al-Anṣārī (may Allah be pleased with him): “Do not face the qiblah nor turn your back to it when defecating or urinating; rather, turn eastward or westward.” (1)

Vocabulary of the ḥadīth
• “Do not face (lā tastaqbilū)”: the particle lā is prohibitive, and therefore the verb that follows is in the jussive mood.
• “Turn eastward or westward (sharriqū aw gharri­bū)”: from tashrīq and taghrīb, meaning: direct your faces toward the east or toward the west while relieving yourselves. This instruction is addressed to the people of Madinah and to anyone whose qiblah is aligned as theirs is, so that by turning east or west they will neither face the qiblah nor turn their backs to it.

Points derived from the ḥadīth

1. It is forbidden to face or turn one’s back to the qiblah while urinating or defecating.
2. One is instructed to orient himself eastward or westward so as to avoid facing or turning his back to the qiblah.
3. As a rule, the Prophet’s commands and prohibitions are addressed to the whole Ummah; however, they may at times apply only to a particular group. Here, the directive “but turn eastward or westward” was specifically for the people of Madinah and for anyone whose orientation is such that, by doing so, he will not face the qiblah.
4. The wisdom behind this ruling is to show reverence for the honored Kaʿbah, as previously discussed.
5. The Prophet’s excellent method of instruction: after clarifying what is forbidden—facing or turning one’s back to the qiblah—he provided a lawful alternative, leaving no one at a loss. He behaved similarly on many occasions, such as when he advised the date-collector of Khaybar: “Sell the inferior dates for money and then buy the choice dates with that money.”