and anyone whose hand is free from impurity incurs no harm if he puts it into the vessel from which he is making ablution. Should there be filth upon it, the ruling for that was already detailed in the Chapter on Water. The hand is presumed pure until proven otherwise, and the same presumption applies to all other pure things: everything remains upon its original state until something contrary becomes evident.

It is recommended to use the siwak before every prayer and whenever the mouth’s odor changes. The early Muslims used the arak or basham twig for this purpose, and anything that polishes the teeth and freshens the breath serves the same function. It is disliked for men to adorn themselves with the adornment peculiar to women.

One should neither face nor turn one’s back to the qiblah while defecating or urinating in open areas or on rooftops. Inside houses, however, a concession has been granted for the seat to be oriented toward the qiblah, and it has been reported from Malik that rooftops carry the same ruling as houses.

Pronouncing the name of Allah at the beginning of every ablution is recommended, for invoking His name is praiseworthy. Likewise, praising Allah upon leaving the privy—and indeed in every circumstance—is good, recommended, and encouraged.

We have transmitted that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ would say, upon entering the privy, “O Allah, I seek refuge in You from the male and female devils,” and that he also used to say on that occasion, “O Allah, indeed I …”