Dua When Entering the Toilet

Explanation

This is the dua to be recited when entering the toilet (lavatory). In one hadith, the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ advised that one should neither face the qibla nor turn one’s back to it while relieving oneself.

The key words of the dua are “a’udhu” (I seek refuge), “rijs” and “khabith”: rijs refers to physical and spiritual filth, while khabith describes what is evil and foul. “Mukhbith” means the one who defiles, who tries to make a person impure, and it points to the accursed Satan (ash-shaytan ar-rajim). So in one short sentence, a person seeks refuge in Allah both from visible dirt and from invisible whispering (waswasa). For this reason the dua has not been limited to the toilet alone; it has also been taught as a sentence of refuge to remember when entering any dirty or unpleasant place.

When and How to Recite

It is recited right before entering the toilet, at the threshold. There is no set number; reciting it once is enough.

It is sunnah to enter with the left foot. Not facing the qibla or turning one’s back to it while relieving oneself is the advice of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. Good manners include not talking inside and leaving dua and dhikr for outside rather than doing them inside.

There are other well-known points of toilet etiquette as well: one does not talk inside, does not mention Allah’s name, and does not carry anything with the word Allah or a verse of the Quran written on it; one enters with the left foot and leaves with the right. This dua is the opening sentence of all these manners. If you entered without reciting it, it cannot be made up afterwards; simply remember it the next time you enter.

Virtue

Satan is impure, foul and a source of evil whispering; in places such as the toilet he keeps a person occupied. Whoever recites this dua has sought refuge in Allah from Satan’s evil.