Facing the sun or moon when relieving oneself

Question: 146941

What is the reasoning behind the Hanbali madhab stating that it is makruh in the to face the sun or moon when answering the call of nature ?

This is the mutamad position as it is agreed upon in both al-Iqna and al-Muntaha.

Ibn al-Qayyim states in Miftah Dar al-Sa’ada (2.205-206), “Not a single word about this has been reported from the Prophet , not with an authentic or weak isnad, or a mursal or continuous isnad. This issue has no foundation (asl) in the shar’.”

But still there are still some other strands of Hanabila left in the world who hold this opinion.

Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah and his family.

The view of the Hanbali madhhab is that it is makrooh to
face the sun or moon when relieving oneself; the reason they gave for this
ruling is that there is some of the light of Allah in both of them.

Shaykh Mansoor al-Bahooti (may Allah have mercy on him) said:
And it is makrooh (to face the sun or moon) without a barrier when relieving
oneself, because there is some of the light of Allah in both of them, and it
was narrated that there are angels with them and that the names of Allah,
may He be exalted, are written on them.

End quote from Kashshaaf al-Qinaa‘, 1/62

The Hanbali view with regard to this matter is the view of
the majority.

Radd al-Muhtaar ‘ala al-Durr al-Mukhtaar,
1/343; Haashiyat al-Bujayrami ‘ala al-Khateeb, 1/196; al-Taaj
wa’l-Ikleel li Mukhtasar Khaleel, 1/408; al-Mawsoo‘ah al-Fiqhiyyah,
34/9

The second opinion is that it is not makrooh to face the sun
or moon when relieving oneself, and this is the correct opinion.

Al-Nawawi (may Allah have mercy on him) said: This is the
favoured view, because judging something to be mustahabb requires evidence,
and there is no evidence with regard to this matter.

End quote from al-Majmoo‘, 2/111

Shaykh Muhammad ibn ‘Uthaymeen (may Allah have mercy on him)
said:

The correct view is that it is not makrooh, because of the
absence of any sound evidence and because the evidence which indicates that
it is permissible is proven.

End quote from al-Sharh al-Mumti‘ by Ibn ‘Uthaymeen,
1/123

And Allah knows best.

Source:

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