Answered by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
As a student and Muslim who is trying to learn my deen, I find that I’m reading nearly all the time. There are innumerable things I want to study or read in a short pressurized amount of time. As a consequence, I have a habit of reading books and magazines of general knowledge and intellectual interest in the toilet e.g. The Economist magazine or book by Noam Chomsky. Is this permissible or even desirable (by analogy to the fact that Sahaba did dhikr in their hearts when in the toilet)? If not what should one do or even think about in those many minutes and cumulative hours sat on the toilet?
Walaikum assalam,
What you are doing is blameworthy on two counts:
- It is blameworthy to spend more time than necessary in the toilet, because it is a lowly place Shaytans gather in. It is also blameworthy to look around aimlessly, read, etc.
- Knowledge, even beneficial worldly knowledge, is something noble, a gift from Allah Most High to His creation. It is not proper manners towards any knowledge to seek it in the toilet.
- The scholars mention that in such cases, what you lose is more than what you gain.
The Sahaba didn’t “do dhikr in their hearts when in the toilet” in the sense of repeating some particular words systematically. Rather, what is done is to behold your dire poverty, indigence and need of Allah, who alone is Rich and free of needs. And get out of there as soon as you can!
And Allah alone gives success.
Wassalam,