Question:
Assalamualaikum. I would like to ask. Is it permissible for us to enter the toilet during adhan? My mother prohibits me from entering the toilet during adhan as it is said that it is the time when shaytan gathers in the toilet.
Hope for an explanation. Thank you.
BRIEF ANSWER
There are hadiths that generally remind us on the matter. However, there is no narration which states clearly and directly on shaytan gathers in the toilet during adhan. Besides, there is also no narration which indicates the prohibition of entering the toilet during adhan.
Therefore, there is no prohibition of entering toilet during adhan. Especially when one desperately wants to answer the call of nature or other purpose like hastening to go to the masjid for congregational prayer and the like.
However, if one is able to refrain himself from entering the toilet during adhan, then it is best for him to do so. Besides, it is highly recommended for a person to cleanse himself and take ablution earlier before adhan is called so that he may get the reward of answering the adhan and attend the masjid earlier. This is because Allah SWT promise a great reward for those who answer the adhan and attend the masjid early.
Wallahu a’lam.
EXPLANATION
Alhamdulillah, praise and thanks to Allah for the countless blessings He has blessed us all with. Blessings and salutations to the Prophet Muhammad PBUH, his wives, his family, companions and all those that follow his teachings to the day of judgement.
There are hadiths which state that shaytan reside dirty places like the toilet. Hence, the Prophet PBUH taught us to supplicate before and after entering the toilet to protect oneself from the shaytan. This is based on a hadith narrated by Zaid bin Arqam that the Prophet PBUH said:
إِنَّ هَذِهِ الْحُشُوشَ مُحْتَضَرَةٌ فَإِذَا أَتَى أَحَدُكُمُ الْخَلاَءَ فَلْيَقُلْ أَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ مِنَ الْخُبُثِ وَالْخَبَائِثِ
These privies are frequented by the jinns and devils. So when anyone amongst you goes there, he should say: "I seek refuge in Allah from male and female devils."
Sunan Abi Dawud (6)
Also, the Prophet PBUH also mentioned on the conditions of shaytan when adhan is called. They will scatter away while farting as to not hear the adhan. The Prophet PBUH said:
إِذَا نُودِيَ لِلصَّلاَةِ أَدْبَرَ الشَّيْطَانُ وَلَهُ ضُرَاطٌ حَتَّى لاَ يَسْمَعَ التَّأْذِينَ
"When the Adhan is pronounced Satan takes to his heels and passes wind with noise during his flight in order not to hear the Adhan.”
Sahih al-Bukhari (608)
In another narration, the Prophet PBUH said:
إِنَّ الشَّيْطَانَ إِذَا سَمِعَ النِّدَاءَ بِالصَّلاَةِ أَحَالَ لَهُ ضُرَاطٌ حَتَّى لاَ يَسْمَعَ صَوْتَهُ
When Satan hears the call to prayer, he turns back and breaks the wind so as not to hear the call being made
Sahih Muslim (389)
Based on the above hadiths, it is generally indicated that toilet is a place resided by the shaytan and when adhan is called, they will scatter away while farting as to not hear the adhan.
However, there is no narration which clearly states that shaytan will gather in the toilet during adhan. Also, there is no narration which states that there is prohibition of entering toilet during adhan.
Especially when one desperately wants to answer the call of nature or other purpose like hastening to go to the masjid for congregational prayer. So, there is no prohibition to enter the toilet when adhan is called.
However, when on enters the toilet during adhan, he will miss the chance to answer the adhan. This is because it is makruh for those in toilet to answer the adhan. This is as stated by Imam al-Nawawi in his book, al-Majmu’ Syarh al-Muhazzab:
وَيُسْتَثْنَى مِنْ هَذَا الْمُصَلِّي وَمَنْ هُوَ عَلَى الْخَلَاءِ وَالْجِمَاعِ فَإِذَا فَرَغَ مِنْ الْخَلَاءِ وَالْجِمَاعِ تَابَعَهُ
And it is exempted from this (answering the adhan) for those who are praying, those who are in the toilet and those who are doing intercourse. When they finish their business and the intercourse, then they can join them (answer the adhan). (Refer al-Majmu’ Syarh al-Muhazzab, 3:118)
We also have discussed on this in length in other articles, kindly refer Al-Kafi 1022: Answering the Adhan in The Toilet. Thus, if one is able to refrain himself from entering the toilet during adhan, then it is best for him to do so. Among that is the saying of the Prophet PBUH:
مَنْ قَالَ حِينَ يَسْمَعُ النِّدَاءَ اللَّهُمَّ رَبَّ هَذِهِ الدَّعْوَةِ التَّامَّةِ وَالصَّلاَةِ الْقَائِمَةِ آتِ مُحَمَّدًا الْوَسِيلَةَ وَالْفَضِيلَةَ وَابْعَثْهُ مَقَامًا مَحْمُودًا الَّذِي وَعَدْتَهُ، حَلَّتْ لَهُ شَفَاعَتِي يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ
"Whoever after listening to the Adhan says, 'Allahumma Rabba hadhihi-dda` watit-tammah, was-salatil qa'imah, ati Muhammadan al-wasilata wal-fadilah, wa b`ath-hu maqaman mahmudan-il-ladhi wa`adtahu' [O Allah! Lord of this perfect call (perfect by not ascribing partners to You) and of the regular prayer which is going to be established, give Muhammad the right of intercession and illustriousness, and resurrect him to the best and the highest place in Paradise that You promised him (of)], then my intercession for him will be allowed on the Day of Resurrection".
Sahih al-Bukhari (514)
Also, do not wait until the adhan ends to enter the toilet and then rush for congregational prayer in masjid in which one may attend the prayer while constraining himself from urinating or defecating.
This condition will cause disturbance and disrupt one’s khusyu’. In a hadith narrated by Saidatina Aisyah R.Anha, the Prophet PBUH said:
لاَ صَلاَةَ بِحَضْرَةِ الطَّعَامِ وَلاَ وَهُوَ يُدَافِعُهُ الأَخْبَثَانِ
No prayer can be (rightly said) when the food is there (before the worshipper), or when he is prompted by the call of nature.
Sahih Muslim (560)
Also, the hadith narrated by Abu Umamah RA where the Prophet PBUH said:
أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ نَهَى أَنْ يُصَلِّيَ الرَّجُلُ وَهُوَ حَاقِنٌ
The Messenger of Allah forbade a man to perform prayer when he was suppressing (the urge to urinate or defecate).
Sunan Ibn Majah (617) and Musnad Ahmad (21648)
Therefore, it is highly recommended for a person to purify himself and take ablution earlier before adhan to get the rewards of answering the adhan and then attend the masjid early for the congregational prayer. This is because Allah SWT promised great reward for those who answer the adhan and attend the masjid early.
Wallahu a’lam.