Answered by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
What is the Hanafi opinion/ruling on the common practice of wearing slippers in the bathroom? What is the reasoning for it? Bathroom rugs do not suffice? I assume its because of the idea that there is filth on the floor.
Walaikum assalam,
It is good to wear slippers when going to the toilet because of the possibility of there being filth present.
Such possibilities do not affect the default assumption of purity, but make adopting caution recommended, except when such caution is out of waswasa (baseless misgivings).
This is why Imam Nawawi mentioned in hisMajmu`:
“It is recommended not to enter the toilet barefooted…. Bayhaqi mentioned a mursal hadith that, “The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) used to wear slippers and cover his head when entering the toilet.” …. Bayhaqi said, ‘Covering the head when entering the toilet has been authentically reported from Abu Bakr al-Siddiq (Allah be pleased with him).’ ” [Nawawi, al-Majmu` Sharh al-Muhadhdhab, 1.109-110]
And Allah alone gives success.
Walaikum assalam,
Faraz Rabbani.