The action or reaction of a Muslim in a given situation, whether pleasant of otherwise, indicates the extent to which he is influenced or alienated from Islamic culture. The general attitude especially of our Muslim youths today reveals that many of them are more alienated than they are influenced by Islam. Recently, I was in the midst of some Muslim youths when one of them sneezed. In their response to the situation, I heard too phrases that sounded strange to the teachings of Islam. One of them said, “Sorry”. Another remarked, “You have 41 days more to live on earth”. What perhaps sounded more un-usual came from the person who sneezed and said, “Excuse me”; without also covering his mouth. It is against this background that we intend this week to devout this column to teaching what a Muslim is expected to do or say in various situations including when he sneezes; visits the toilet; upon hearing an obituary; etc.
When a Muslim sneezes, he should say, “Al-hamdu Lillahi” Meaning “Gratitude is to Allah’. Those who heard this glorification would then say “Yarhamaka-llahu” meaning: “May Allah have mercy on you”. However, they will not say this until after hearing the glorification of Allah from the person who sneezed; meaning that if he fails to glorify Allah; they would not be obliged to seek Allah’s mercy for him. The one who sneezed will thereafter on hearing the supplication of those around him say, “Yaghfiru-llahu lanaa wa lakum” meaning “May Allah forgive us and u too”. Islam as a decent religion requires that we cover our mouth each time we give a sneeze. Abu Daud and Tirmidhi both relate on the authority of Abu Hurayrah (RA) that whenever the Prophet (SAW) sneezed, he used to cover his mouth with his hand or cloth.
Before we enter into the toilet, we are expected to say “Allahuma inni a’uuzu bika min al-hubthi wal khabaa-ith” meaning: “O Allah! we seek refuge from you against (everything) harmful and wicked”. After coming out of the toilet, we are required to say “Ghufranaka Al-hamdu lillahi lladhi adh-haba ’ani al-adha wa ’aafaani” meaning: “(We seek) Your pardon; Praise be to Allah who expunged that which is harmful out of me and gave me good health”. It is unlawful to enter in to the toilet with any material on which Allah’s name is inscribed or engraved such as rings and currency notes. Using such items to clean up ourselves after visiting the toilet is also prohibited.
It is recommended that we enter in to the toilet with our left leg and come out of it with the right foot. We are also required to answer the call of nature in a squatting position and not standing. We must not face or back the Qiblah (direction of the Ka’abah to which Muslims turn in prayers) especially when we are attending to the natural call in an open space. Our clothes in that circumstance should be lifted up or pushed down only when we are no longer standing. It is preferred that we lean on our left leg to ease ourselves. We are not expected to talk while attending to the call of nature in the toilet or in an open space until we are out of it except for reasons of safety of life and property such as a blind man trying to fall into fire. It is also recommended that we avoid answering the call of nature in a still water, people’s pathways and their sitting places.
Islam has equally fashioned out rules to guide our conduct while on the dining table. To start eating food, we are required to say “Bismillahi” meaning “In the name of Allah”. If however one forgot to say that, he would still say it at anytime he remembers before he finishes taking his meal. At the end of every meal, we are required to give gratitude to Allah (SWT) saying “Al-hamdu lillahi lladhi at’amanii wa saqqaanii” meaning “Glory be to Allah who gave me to eat and drink”. If a Muslim is invited to eat while he is fasting, he should pray instead. He could, for example, say “Baaraka-llahu fiihi” meaning: “May Allah bless it”. The Sunnah of the Prophet (SAW) teaches that we should use our right hand to eat; with or without the use of cutlery set. It also recommends that we should start eating part of the food that is nearer to us (in the plate) before reaching out to the part that is farther from us. It is not in the character of the Prophet (SAW) to eat while lying down; he eats in a sitting position.
Imam Muslim relates on the authority of Jabir (RA) that the Prophet (SAW) said, “If a morsel of food falls from the hand of any of you, let him pick it and clean off the dirt on it and then eat it; he must not leave it for the Satan. He should not clean his hand (after eating) with handkerchief until he has licked his fingers, because he does not know where blessing lies in his food”. The devil would have won over those who refuse to pick their food to eat when it falls out of their hands. Prophetic tradition similarly encourages us to always invite others to eat along with us. All the six authentic compilers of hadith report on the authority of Abu Hurayrah (RA) that if we eat in company of others, “the food meant for two persons would suffice for there; and the food meant for three persons would do for four”.
The Prophet (SAW) prohibits over-feeding. It is also unlawful as reported in the hadith related on the authority of Anas (RA) to breathe or blow air in to drinking cup. The prophet (SAW) prohibits the use of drinking cups made from gold or silver; adding that those who use such cups for drinking are only pulling hell fire in to their stomachs. Our discussion on this subject matter continues next week insha Allah. May Allah (SWT) guide us to imbibe the teachings of Islam and shun the excesses and indecencies of cultures that are foreign to our religion, amin.
