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FATWA
COVERING HEAD FOR TOILET
Q. Do we have to wear topee for the toilet? Is it Sunnat Muakidah to do so?
A. Covering the head when answering the call of nature was from amongst the practices of Nabi (Sallahu alaihi Wasallam)
Aishah (Radhiallahu Anha) narrates that when Nabi (Sallahu alaihi Wasallam) entered the toilet he would cover his head. (Sunnanul Kubra of Baihaqi Vol.1 Pg.96, Kitaabul Mu'jam Hadith No. 1085, Hilyatul Awliyaa Vol.7 Pg.158)
Habib Ibn Salih Rahimahullah reports that when Nabi (Sallahu alaihi Wasallam) entered the toilet, he would wear shoes and cover his head. (Sunnanul Kubra of Baihaqi Vol.1 Pg.96, Almajmoo Vol. 2 Pg.113)
It was also the practice of the Sahabah (Radhiallahu Anhum). Aishah (Radhiallahu Anha) narrates that Abu Bakr (Radhiallahu Anhu) said: "Show respect in front of Allah, for I certainly cover my head when entering the toilet, due to respect for Allah Ta'ala." (Sunnanul Kubra of Baihaqi Vol.1 Pg.96)
Covering the head with a topee when entering the toilet has also been narrated from Anas Ibn Malik (Radhiallahu Anhu) (Abdur Razzaaq Vol.1 Pg.190) and Abu Musa Ash'ari (Radhiallahu Anhu) (Ibn Abi Shaibah Vol.1 Pg.34)
A highly authentic narration of Sahihul Bukhari also shows that covering the head while answering the call of nature was a norm in the time of the Sahabah. (Bukhari Hadith No.577)
Allamah Munawi writes in his famous commentary 'Faidhul Qadir' (Hadith No.6667), explaining the reason for Nabi (Sallahu alaihi Wasallam) covering his head upon entering the toilet: "It was done out of respect for Allah and because covering the head when answering the call of nature causes the pores to contract thereby allowing quicker emerging of faeces. It also prevents the bad smell of the toilet from getting into the hair.
Allamah Dimiri writes that it is preferred for a person to cover his head when entering the toilet and he should not leave it uncovered, even if he has cover it with his sleeve. This is for protection from the jinn. (Mawahibul Jaleel Vol.1 Pg.270)
Allamah Shaami, Imam Ghazaali, Ubbi, Ibn Arafah, Ibnul Haaj, Imamul Haramain, Baghawi, Khalil, Dasooqi (Rahimahullah) have all mentioned that a person should not enter the toilet with the head uncovered. Some say that in addition to wearing a topee, one should also wear a skarf or shawl in order to prevent the smell from getting into the hair, while others mention that this is just an added benefit of covering the head, the main reason is out of respect for Allah Ta'ala. (Al-wasit Vol.1 Pg.298, Mawahibul Jaleel Vol.1 Pg. 270, Raddul Muhtaar Vol.1 Pg.245, Al-Majmoo' Vol.2 Pg.113, Dasooqi alash sharh Kabir Vol.1 Pg.106)
Allah Ta'ala knows best.
Mufti Ebrahim Desai
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