Answered by Ustadha Zaynab Ansari, SunniPath Academy Teacher
A person in a western country says that it is a fact that most western people generally don’t wash their hands properly (or don’t even wash their hands at all) after they use the washroom. When we touch door knobs etc in public places, we should wash our hands as soon as possible because we have touched something dirty and it’s good to remain clean 24/7. It is not najas, but would you call this practice extremism or preferable or is it not necessary at all?
In the Name of Allah, the Gracious, the Merciful
Assalamu alaikum,
I pray this message finds you well.
This is a matter of personal discretion. Unless there is some obvious filth on the door knob or handle, then you don’t need to wash your hands. However, from the standpoint of both Sunna and hygiene, it is better to wash your hands before you eat or when coming into contact with the Qur’an (even if you have ablution) or if you are around children.
This helps stop the spread of disease. And, yes, unfortunately, most people don’t wash their hands after going to the bathroom, so exercise common sense and caution.
Wasalaam,
Zaynab