The text of the Hadeeth: “Whenever the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) (intended) to enter Al-kha-lā’ (an empty place, used to answer the call of nature, i.e., the bathroom) he would say: “Allāhum-ma In-nee A’oo-dhu Bi-ka mi-nalkhu-bu-thi wal-kha-bā-ith.”[2] Explanation of the Hadeeth: The saying of the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam): “Bis-mil-lāh”means, In the Name of Allāh I enter the bathroom (to achieve every benefit and repulse every harm). His saying (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam): “Allāhum-ma In-nee A’oo-dhu Bi-ka”means, I call upon You, Allāh, seeking protection, refuge and shelter in You, the Only One Who has power over everything! His saying (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam): “…Mi-nalkhu-bu-thi wal-kha-bā-ith”: Al-khu-bu-thi or Al-khub-thi (both readings are correct) is the plural of kha-beeth; and Al-kha-bā’ith is the plural of kha-bee-thah, meaning ‘male and female evil spirits (i.e., devils).’ These two words have also been interpreted as, ‘evil and evil doers.’ The toilet is one of the places of abode for evil spirits. Al-Hāfidh Ibn Hajr al-‘Asqalānee (may Allāh have mercy on him) mentioned in his explanation of al-Bukhāri entitled ‘Fat-hul-Bāree’ that in some of the narrations of this Hadeeth from Abdul-‘Aziz Bin Suhaib, it has the words: “If you enter the bathroom, then you must say: Bis-mil-lāh. A’oo-dhubil-lāhi mi-nalkhu-bu-thi wal-kha-bā-ith.”He then said: “Its chain of narrators is according to the condition of Imām Muslim.”[3] Saying ‘Bis-mil-lāh’upon entering the bathroom is also confirmed in the Hadeeth of ‘Alee Bin Abi Tālib (may Allāh be pleased with him), from the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam): “The screen (Sitr) which is between the eyes of the Jinn (unseen creatures created from fire) and the private parts of the human beings – when anyone of them enters the bathroom – is that he says: ‘Bis-mil-lāh’.”[4] In one of the narrations of al-Bukhāri[5], it has: “If someone intends to enter …”. Its meaning is that you should say this supplication before entering the bathroom, not after entering. [Taken from: ‘Reflections Upon Selected Daily Supplications’
– Abu Muhammad]
[1] Fortress of the Muslim, no.10.
[2] Reported by Al-Bukhāri, no. 142; Muslim, no. 375, from Anas Bin Mālik (may Allāh be pleased with him).
[3]Fat-hul-Bāree, 1/224.
[4] Reported by IbnMājah, no. 297; Saheeh Al-Jāmi’, no. 3611. Al-Albānee said that it is authentic (Saheeh), due to it being strengthened by a number of chains of narration.
[5] Al-Bukhāri, no. 142.
