Avoiding Impurities When Using the Bathroom

Answered by Ustadh Tabraze Azam

Question: I have an issue regarding purity and prayers. I work, and wear business clothes. I worry that if I go to the toilet there may be unseen splashes from flushing, or that my trousers will touch the floor and picking up some impurity. Things are not as clean as in my home.

I try to stand as far back as possible so that no splash comes on my clothes, but who knows what there is on the floor, and I can’t do anything about that.

Then, what do I do about prayers? I have an abaya which I keep to wear over my office clothes. But I worry about the impurity there may be on my clothes under the abaya.

Because of this worry, I don’t pray at work, and when I go home, I say all my missed prayers. And I hate that. What do I do?

Answer: Wa alaikum assalam wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh,

I hope you are in the best of health and spirits, insha’Allah.

You can ignore any spray which may affect your clothing during flushing. Such spray is not legally considered. Thus, you should not worry about it. [Shurunbulali, Maraqi al-Falah; Halabi, Halabi al-Saghir]

As for the floor, you can assume purity. We have a number of principles related to such issues and amongst them is that: Mere doubts and suppositions are of no legal consequence. Moreover, the default assumption about matters is purity. Hence, you should, reasonably, try to avoid contact with the floor. However, if something does happen to affect your clothing, you ignore it. There is absolutely no need to ‘check’ the area.

It is clear that you are striving to do your best whilst seeking religious guidance and this is excellent. Allah Most High has informed us, “Allah does not burden souls with more than they can manage.”

Pray at work. There is no reason to doubt your purity in the situations you have described. Assume purity, with full confidence, and thank Allah.

The religion is mercy and ease. If one does not find this, one is doing something wrong. It is said that misgivings (waswasa) and hardship arise from an ignorance of the sunna of the beloved of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace).

Please see the following related links:

[1] Key Principles Relating to Certainty, Doubt, and Baseless Misgivings

[2] Excused Liquid Filth and Ignoring Baseless Doubts About Purity

May Allah have mercy upon us all and guide us to the ways of the righteous.

And Allah knows best and He alone gives success.

Wassalam,

Tabraze Azam

Checked & Approved by Faraz Rabbani