Passing urine while standing
Fatwa No: 85142

Question

Can a Muslim pass urine while standing?

Answer

Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds; and may His blessings and peace be upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon all his Family and Companions.

1) There is no objection for one to pass urine while standing provided: (1) he makes sure that no drops of urine will fall upon his clothes or body, and (2) he hides himself from others, i.e. from seeing his private parts and loins.
In this vein, Huzaifa reported that Allah's Messenger (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) "Went to a public garbage dump and urinated while standing" [Reported by Imams Bukhari and Muslim ].
Another Hadith reads: "If someone relates to you that Allah's Messenger urinated while standing, do not believe him. He only urinated while sitting" [ al-Tirmizi , al-Nasa'i and Ibn Majah ].
Ibn Hajar (May Allah's Mercy be upon him) reconciled between the above-stated Hadith saying: 'One should not forget that what Ayisha (Radiya Allahu Anha) said is based on the knowledge that she had, and this is related to what happens at homes. As for outside homes, Huzaifah went out with the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) and knew such an action. Huzaifah is one of the senior companions of the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam)' .
2) It is Haram for one to face or turn his back on the Qiblah while relieving himself as long as he is outdoors.
Abu Ayub reported that the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) said: "When one of you relieves himself, he should neither face the Qiblah nor turn his back to it …" [Reported by Imams Bukhari and Muslim ].
No doubt that the above-order is applied only while one is in the open area. There is no such a ban in the homes for the Prophetic Hadith recorded by al-Bukhari and Muslim from Abdullah Ibn 'Umar who said: "I ascended to my sister's ( Hafsa ) home and I saw Allah's Messenger (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) sitting to relieve himself while facing Syria with his back to the Qiblah" .
As a result, it is more proper to avoid facing/turning back on al-Qiblah while answering the call of nature even at home. Then, it is also more proper to take this point into consideration before building houses.
Allah knows best.

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