Chapter on Etiquettes of Acts That Require Purification

Narrated by Muhammad ibn Ali ibn Mahbub, from Al-Abbas, from Abdullah ibn Al-Mughirah, from Abdullah ibn Maymun Al-Qaddah, from Abu Abdullah عليه السلام, from his fathers, from (Imam) Ali عليه السلام: Whenever He عليه السلام, exited the restroom, Imam عليه السلام would say: "All praise is due to Allah سبحانه وتعالى, who granted me its pleasure, preserved its strength in my body, and removed harm from me. What a blessing this is!" He would repeat it three times.

Narrated by Muhammad ibn Isa Al-Ubaydi, from Al-Hasan ibn Ali, from Ibrahim ibn Abdul-Hamid: I heard Abu Abdullah عليه السلام, say: "Indeed, Commander of the Faithful عليه السلام, whenever he intended to relieve himself, he would stand at the entrance of the restroom, then look to his right and left towards his two angels and say: 'Step aside from me, for you have from me a promise before Allah سبحانه وتعالى that I will not commit any act (requiring your recording) until I return to you.'"

Narrated by Al-Abbas, from Al-Husayn ibn Yazid, from Isma'il ibn Abi Ziyad, from Muhammad ibn Muslim: I heard Abu Ja'far عليه السلام, say: "Luqman said to his son: 'Prolonged sitting in the restroom causes hemorrhoids.' So, this was written on the door of the lavatory."

Narrated by Muhammad ibn Abd al-Hamid, from Muhammad ibn Umar ibn Yazid, from Muhammad ibn 'Udhafir, from Umar ibn Yazid: I asked Abu Abdillah عليه السلام, about reciting tasbih (praises of Allah سبحانه وتعالى) and reading the Quran in the restroom. Imam عليه السلام said: "It is not permitted in the lavatory to recite more than Ayat al-Kursi, or to praise Allah سبحانه وتعالى, or to recite a verse."

Narrated by al-Haytham ibn Masruq al-Nahdi, from Muhammad ibn Isma'il: I entered upon Abu al-Hasan al-Ridha عليه السلام, and in his house, there was a lavatory facing the qiblah. I heard Imam عليه السلام say: "Whoever urinates while facing the qiblah, and then remembers and turns away from it out of reverence and respect for the qiblah, shall not leave that position until Allah سبحانه وتعالى forgives him."

Narrated by Muhammad ibn Isa, from Sa'dan, from Hakam, from a man, who reported from Abu Abdullahعليه السلام: I asked Imam عليه السلام: "Can a man urinate while standing?" Imam عليه السلام replied: "Yes, but it is feared that the Shaytan may afflict him (cause harm or madness)." I then asked: "Can a man urinate in water?" Imam عليه السلام said: "Yes, but it is feared that the Shaytan may harm him."

Narrated by Ali ibn Al-Rayyan ibn Al-Salt, from Al-Hasan ibn Rashid, from Misma', who reported from Abu Abdullah عليه السلام: Commander of the Faithful عليه السلام, said that the Messenger of Allah سبحانه وتعالى, peace and blessings be upon him and his family, said: "It is disliked, or a man is prohibited, from urinating from a rooftop into the air."

Narrated by Muhammad ibn Al-Husayn, from Muhammad ibn Yahya Al-Khazzaz, from Ghiyath, from Imam Al Ja’far عليه السلام, from his father Imam Al Baqir عليه السلام: Imam عليه السلام disliked entering the restroom while carrying a white dirham (minted with name of Allah سبحانه وتعالى) unless it was tied up.

Narrated by Muhammad ibn Al-Husayn, from Al-Hasan ibn Ali, from his father, from his forefathers عليه السلام: Imam عليه السلام said that the Prophet, may Allah سبحانه وتعالى bless him and his family, said: "When one of you uncovers himself to urinate or for any other purpose, let him say; In the name of Allah سبحانه وتعالى, for indeed, the Shaytan lowers his gaze."

Narrated by Ahmad, from Al-Barqi, from Al-Nawfali, from Al-Sakooni, from Imam Ja’far Al Sadiq عليه السلام, from his father Imam Al Baqir عليه السلام, from his forefathers, from (Imam) Ali عليه السلام, who said: Imam عليه السلام said: "The Messenger of Allah سبحانه وتعالى, may Allah سبحانه وتعالى bless him and his family, forbade relieving oneself on the edge of a well whose water is drawn for drinking, or in a river whose water is used for drinking, or under a tree that bears fruit."

Ahmad ibn Muhammad narrated from Ali ibn al-Hakam, from Aban ibn Uthman, from Bukayr ibn A‘yan, from one of the two Imams عليه السلام, who said: Imam عليه السلام said: "If an impurity occurs in the mosque, there is no harm in performing ablution in the mosque."

Al-Husayn ibn Sa‘id narrated from Muhammad ibn Abi ‘Umayr, from Hanan ibn Sudayr, who said: I heard a man ask Abu ‘Abdullah عليه السلام, and he said: "I sometimes urinate but cannot find water, and this troubles me." He (Imam عليه السلام) said: "If you urinate and wipe yourself, then wipe your private part with your saliva. If you find anything (afterward), say: 'This is from that.'"

Muhammad ibn Ali ibn Mahbub narrated from Sa‘dan ibn Muslim, from ‘Abd al-Rahim, who said: I wrote to Abu al-Hasan عليه السلام, regarding a eunuch who urinates and experiences difficulty, seeing wetness repeatedly. He (the Imam عليه السلام) replied: "He should perform ablution and sprinkle water (on his clothes) once during the day."

Ahmad ibn Muhammad narrated from al-Barqi, from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr, from Hisham ibn al-Hakam: Abu ‘Abdullah عليه السلام said: “The Messenger of Allah سبحانه وتعالى, said: ‘O group of Ansar, Allah سبحانه وتعالى has praised you with good words, so what do you do (to deserve these good words)?’ They replied: "We cleanse ourselves with water."

Muhammad ibn Ali ibn Mahbub narrated from Ali ibn Khalid, from Ahmad ibn ‘Abdus, from al-Hasan ibn Ali ibn Faddal, from al-Mufaddal ibn Salih, from Laith al-Muradi, from Abu ‘Abdullah عليه السلام. He (Narrator) said: “I asked Imam عليه السلام about a man performing istinja’ (cleaning after relieving oneself) using a bone, dung, or a stick. Imam عليه السلام replied: "As for the bone and dung, they are the food of the jinn, and this is something they (Jinn) stipulated with the Messenger of Allah سبحانه وتعالى, peace be upon him and his family." Then Imam عليه السلام said: "It is not permissible to use any of those."

Ahmad ibn al-Husayn narrated from Hammad ibn ‘Isa, from Hariz, from Zurara. He (Narrator) said: “He (Zurara) used to perform istinja’ (cleaning after relieving oneself) from urine by washing three times, and from feces using clay or pieces of cloth.”

Muhammad ibn Ali ibn Mahbub, from Ya'qub ibn Yazid, from Ibn Abi Umayr, from Umar ibn Udhaynah, from Zurarah. He (Narrator) said: “I heard Abu Ja'far عليه السلام, say: ‘(Imam) Al-Husayn ibn Ali عليه السلام, would cleanse himself after defecation with cotton and would not wash (with water for istinja).’"

Ahmad ibn Abi Abdillah, from Al-Qasim ibn Yahya, from his grandfather Al-Hasan ibn Rashid, from Abu Basir, from Abu Abdillah عليه السلام. Imam عليه السلام said: "Performing istinja (cleansing) with cold water cures hemorrhoids."

Ibrahim ibn Hashim, from Abdul-Rahman ibn Hammad, from Ibrahim ibn Abdul-Hamid, from Shihab ibn Abdul-Rabbih, from Abu Abdillah عليه السلام. Imam عليه السلام said: "Commander of the Faithful عليه السلام, when performing ablution (wudu), would not allow anyone to pour water for him. It was said to him: 'O Commander of the Faithful, why do you not allow them to pour water for you?' He (Imam Ali عليه السلام) replied: 'I do not like to have anyone share in my prayer.'"

Muhammad ibn Ali ibn Mahbub, from Ali ibn al-Sindi, from Hammad ibn Isa, from Hariz, from Zurara and Muhammad ibn Muslim, from Abu Ja'far عليه السلام. He (Narrator) said: “I asked Imam عليه السلام about the purification of a woman in the state of postnatal bleeding (nifas) when she becomes pure but is unable to cleanse herself with water because doing so might cause her harm. Does she have permission to perform ablution (wudu) externally and then dry herself with cotton or a cloth?” Imam عليه السلام replied: "Yes, she should cleanse herself internally with cotton or a cloth."

Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Isa, from Ali ibn al-Husayn ibn Abd Rabbih, said: I asked Imam عليه السلام: "What do you say about a ring (fuss) made from the stones of Zamzam?" Imam عليه السلام replied: "There is no harm in it, but when one intends to perform istinja (purification after relieving oneself), he should remove it."

Al-Husayn ibn Sa'id, from Ibn Abi Umayr, from some of our companions, from Abu Abdullah عليه السلام, said: Imam عليه السلام said: "If you mention the name of Allah سبحانه وتعالى (say Bismillah) during wudu (ablution), your entire body becomes purified. However, if you do not mention the name of Allah سبحانه وتعالى, only the parts of your body over which (wudu) water passes will be purified."

Sahl ibn Ziyad, from Musa ibn al-Qasim, from Amr ibn Sa'id, from Musaddiq ibn Sadaqah, from Ammar, from Abu Abdullah عليه السلام, said: I asked Imam عليه السلام: "How should a man sit when he wants to perform istinja (cleaning after relieving oneself)?" Imam عليه السلام replied: "He should sit as he sits for relieving himself." And Imam عليه السلام said: "He is only required to wash the part that is visible and is not required to wash the inner part."

Muhammad ibn Yahya, from Muhammad ibn al-Husayn, from Ibn Faddal, from Ghalib ibn Uthman, from Rawh ibn Abd al-Rahim, said: Abu Abdullah عليه السلام, sat and relieved himself while I was standing attending him with a water container or, he said, a jug. When the flow of urine stopped, Imam عليه السلام gestured with his hand and said: "Give it to me like this." So I handed Imam عليه السلام the water, and Imam عليه السلام performed wudu (ablution) right there on the spot.

Ali ibn Ibrahim, from his father, from Hammad, from Hariz, from Ibn Muslim, said: I asked Abu Ja'far عليه السلام, about a man who urinates and does not have water with him. Imam عليه السلام said: “He should squeeze the base of his private part toward its tip three times and shake its tip. If anything comes out after that, it is not urine but rather from the veins.”

Muhammad ibn Ahmad ibn Yahya, from Ya'qub ibn Yazid, from Ibn Abi Umayr, from Dawud ibn Farqad, from Abu Abdillah عليه السلام, said: Imam عليه السلام said: “The Children of Israel, if a drop of urine touched any of them, would cut their flesh with scissors. But Allah سبحانه وتعالى has made things easier for you (Muslims), as vast as what lies between the heavens and the earth, and He سبحانه وتعالى has made water a purifier for you. So be mindful of how you conduct yourselves (regarding cleanliness).”

Al-Husayn ibn Sa'id, from Ibn Abi Umayr, from Jamil ibn Darraj, from Abu Abdillah عليه السلام, said: Imam عليه السلام said: “When the flow of urine stops, pour water (for istinja).”

Ahmad ibn Muhammad, from Al-Barqi, from Bukayr ibn A'yan, from one of the two Imams عليه السلام, said: Imam عليه السلام said: “If an event requiring purification occurs in the mosque, there is no harm in performing wudu (ablution) in the mosque.”

From him, from Al-Hasan ibn Ali, from Rifa'ah, who said: I asked Abu Abdillah عليه السلام, about performing wudu (ablution) in the mosque. Imam عليه السلام disliked it if it was due to urination or defecation.

Sa'd, from Ahmad, from Al-Hasan ibn Ali ibn Faddal, from Yunus ibn Ya'qub, who said: I said to Abu Abdillah عليه السلام: "Can a woman wash her husband's private parts?" Imam عليه السلام replied: "Why? Is it due to an illness?" I said: "No." Imam عليه السلام said: "I do not like a free woman to do so. However, as for a bondwoman, it does not harm him." I said to Imam عليه السلام: "Can a man perform ghusl (ritual bathing) in front of his wife?" Imam عليه السلام said: "Yes, for what he exposes in front of her is even greater (compared to ghusl)."

From him, from Musa ibn Al-Hasan, from Ayyub ibn Nuh, from Al-Hasan ibn Ali ibn Faddal, from Marwan ibn Muslim, from Isma'il ibn Al-Fadl, who said: I saw Abu Abdillah عليه السلام, perform ablution for prayer. Then, Imam عليه السلام wiped his face with the lower part of his shirt and said: "O Isma'il, do like this, for this is how I do it."

Muhammad ibn Al-Hasan Al-Saffar, from Ibrahim ibn Hashim, from Al-Nawfali, from Al-Sakuni, from Ja'far عليه السلام, from his forefathers عليه السلام: Imam عليه السلام said: “The Messenger of Allah سبحانه وتعالى, peace be upon him and his family, said: "Rubbing with the thumb and forefinger during ablution is considered as a tooth-cleaning (siwak)."