QUESTION:

What do the scholars of the Dīn and muftīs of the Sacred Law state regarding the following issue: How is to go to the washroom whilst wearing a Quranic ta’wiz [amulet/talisman]. Sometimes people be wearing such a ring which has Quranic verses inscribed on it, so what should one do when going to the lavatory?

Questioner: Ayaz from UK

ANSWER:

بسم اللہ الرحمن الرحیم
الجواب بعون الملک الوھاب اللھم ھدایۃ الحق والصواب

If the ta’wīz which consists of Quranic verses is wrapped & covered in something, then there is no problem in going with this to the WC, however it is better to avoid. Just as it is mentioned in Durr Mukhtār,

“رُقْيَةً فِي غِلَافٍ مُتَجَافٍ لَمْ يُكْرَهْ دُخُولُ الْخَلَاءِ بِهِ، وَالِاحْتِرَازُ أَفْضَلُ”

“It is not makrūh [disliked] to enter the lavatory while wearing ruqyah [i.e. ta’wīz] which is in a cover, but it is better to avoid.”

And Allāh Almighty knows best.

[Durr Mukhtār, vol 1, pg 178]

If the ta’wīz is out in the open, in the sense that the verses, etc are visible, then it is makrūh [disliked] to go to the lavatory while wearing this type of ta’wīz, as this is disrespectful. Just as it is stated in Ghunyah al-Mustamlī,

“یکرہ دخول المخرج ای الخلاء وفی اصبعہ خاتم فیہ شیئ من القراٰن اومن اسمائہ تعالٰی لمافیہ من ترک التعظیم وقیل لایکرہ ان جعل فصلہ الی باطن الکف ولوکان مافیہ شیئ من القراٰن اومن اسمائہ تعالٰی فی جیبہ لاباس بہ وکذا لوکان ملفوفا فی شیئ والتحرز اولٰی”

“It is makrūh [disliked] to enter the place of relief i.e. the lavatory when someone has a ring on their finger which has some (words) of the Qur’ān or any Sacred Name of Allāh Almighty (written), because this is neglecting respect & greatness. It has been mentioned that if the stone of the ring is facing the palm, then it is not makrūh. If there is something (i.e. paper, etc) in one’s pocket which has part of the Qur’ān or the Holy Name of Allāh Almighty on it, then there is no problem with this. Likewise, if it is closed and wrapped & folded in something, then there is still no problem in this, but it is better to avoid.”

[Ghunyah al-Mustamlī, pg 60]

Furthermore, it is stated in Marāq,

“ويكره الدخول للخلاء ومعه شيء مكتوب فيه اسم الله أو قرآن ونهي عن كشف”

“Whichever person has such a thing that has the Sacred Name of Allāh Almighty or some verse of the Holy Qur’ān written on it, then it is makrūh for such a person to enter the lavatory, and leaving it uncovered has been prohibited.”

[Marāq al-Falāh, vol 30]

With regards to sacred rings, it has been mentioned in Hadīth with Sayyidunā Anas, may Allāh Almighty he pleased with him, stating that,

“كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ إِذَا دَخَلَ الخَلَاءَ نَزَعَ خَاتَمَهُ”

“When the Messenger of Allāh ﷺ would enter the area in which he ﷺ would relieve himself, he ﷺ would remove the ring.”

[Sunan Tirmidhī, Hadīth no 1746][1]

Mentioning the reason for taking off the ring before entering the washroom, the scholars state that,

“لأن نقشه محمد رسول الله قال الطيبي فيه دليل على وجوب تنحية المستنجي اسم الله تعالى واسم رسوله والقرآن وقال الأبهري وكذا سائر الرسل وقال ابن حجر استفيد منه أنه يندب لمريد التبرز أن ينحى كل ما عليه معظم من اسم الله تعالى أو نبي أو ملك فإن خالف كره لترك التعظيم”

“This is because the words ‘Muhammad [ﷺ] is the Messenger of Allāh’ were engraved on the ring. Tībī states that the proof in this is that it is necessary that the one cleaning themselves in the washroom should keep the respected names of Allāh ﷻ and the Noble Messenger ﷺ separate, as well as the Holy Qur’ān. Abharī said that likewise the names of all the other Messengers should [also] be kept separate. Ibn Hajar al-‘Asqalānī states that from this one comes to know that it is mustahabb [recommended/desirable] for the one who intends to relieve himself that he keeps separates everything which is worthy of being respected, such as the name of Allāh Almighty, a Prophet or Angel. If he goes against this, then this will be makrūh due to the neglecting of respect.”

[Hāshiyah, vol 1, pg 54]

Sayyidī Āla Hazrat states with regards to the authenticity of this Hadīth that,

“قلت بل رواہ الاربعۃ وابن حبان والحاکم وبعض اسانیدہ صحیح”

“I say, rather, the four muhaddiths (Imām Tirmidhī, Imām Abū Dāwūd, Imām Nasā’ī & Imām Ibn Mājah, may Allāh Almighty shower mercy upon them), Ibn Hibbān and Hākim have narrated this, and some of its chains of narration are Sahīh [authentic].”

[Fatāwā Ridawiyyah, vol 4, pg 582]

Moreover, Sayyidī Āla Hazrat Imām Ahmad Razā Khān, may Allāh Almighty shower countless mercies upon him, states in Fatāwā Ridawiyyah with regards to a sacredly engraved ring that the conclusion of the issue is that whosoever is wearing a ring which has some words of the Holy Qur’ān, blessed names such as the Sacred Name of Allāh Almighty, the name of the Majestic Qur’ān, or the names of the Prophets, or the names of Angels, upon whom be peace & praise, then he is commanded that when he enters the lavatory, that he removes the ring and leaves it outside; this is better. If such person fears that it will get lost, then he may place it in his pocket, or wrap it in something else as this is permissible also. Although it is better to avoid it [when there is] no need. Nonetheless, if neither of these situations is the case and one enters the lavatory as so [meaning with the ring on], then doing so is makrūh.

[1] Also in Sunan Nasā’ī

واللہ تعالی اعلم ورسولہ اعلم صلی اللہ علیہ وآلہ وسلم
کتبہ ابو الحسن محمد قاسم ضیاء قادری

Answered by Mufti Qasim Zia al-Qadri
Translated by Haider Ali

Read the original Urdu answer here: [Q-ID0600] What is the ruling on wearing a Ta’weez into a bathroom?

Also see:

[Q-ID0155] Is wearing a taweez shirk or permissible?

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