Building Lavatories Facing or Back Siding the Qiblah

16-3-2023 | IslamWeb

Question:

Assalamalaikum,As i am planning to build toilet in my newly constucted house,Is it mandatory compulsary we should not face ourself nor our back in direction of qibla while answering call of nature or urinating.as the toilet area is small , it is difficult to construct the toilet not facing in the direction of qibla. please guide me. waiting for your answer so that i can start the work.jazakallak khair

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Answer:

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.

Regarding permissibility, there is nothing wrong with building lavatories facing or back siding the Qiblah and relieving oneself in that way because the prohibition against that is specific to the desert. Noting that some scholars are of the opinion that the prohibition mentioned in the Hadith is general, meaning in the desert and elsewhere, but the first opinion is that it is permissible to face the Qiblah or turn one’s back in the toilet and behind the screens, is considered the most appropriate opinion, as stated by Al-Hafiz Ibn Hajar . Nonetheless, you should not make the toilets face the Qiblah in the bathroom as a way of avoiding the difference of opinion. However, even if you build it in the direction of the Qiblah, we think there is no harm on you, especially if the need arises.

Allah knows best.