Toilet Facing In Direction Of Qiblah

QUESTION:

A person is building a house. The tiling is complete while the plumbing is somewhat close to finishing. Only the toilets and basins need to be installed. The problem is, when toilets are installed, it will be facing in the direction of the Qiblah. To redo the tiling and plumbing might possibly be a costly affair. Is there a suitable solution to this?

ANSWER:

The toilet should be turned away from the Qiblah even though it may be a costly affair. The Hadith states, “When you come to relieve yourself, then don’t face in the direction of the Qibla (when relieving yourself), nor face your back in the direction of the Qiblah.” The toilet should therefore be built 45 degrees away from the Qiblah.

قَالَ – رَحِمَهُ اللَّهُ – (كُرِهَ اسْتِقْبَالُ الْقِبْلَةِ بِالْفَرْجِ فِي الْخَلَاءِ وَاسْتِدْبَارُهَا) لِقَوْلِهِ – عَلَيْهِ الصَّلَاةُ وَالسَّلَامُ – «إذَا أَتَيْتُمْ الْغَائِطَ فَلَا تَسْتَقْبِلُوا الْقِبْلَةَ وَلَا تَسْتَدْبِرُوهَا بِبَوْلٍ أَوْ غَائِطٍ وَلَكِنْ شَرِّقُوا أَوْ غَرِّبُوا» وَأَرَادَ بِقَوْلِهِ شَرِّقُوا أَوْ غَرِّبُوا فِي الْمَدِينَةِ وَمَا حَوْلَهَا مِنْ الْبِلَادِ لِأَنَّ قِبْلَتَهُمْ بَيْنَ الْمَشْرِقِ وَالْمَغْرِبِ (تبيين الحقائق ص167 ج1)

ALLAH TA’ALA IN HIS INFINITE KNOWLEDGE KNOWS BEST!

ANSWERED BY:

Mufti Mohammed Desai

Date: 22 Muharram 1446 / 29 July 2024