Saturday 8 Jumada al-ula 1446 - 9 November 2024
English

Is It Prohibited to Eat in the Bathroom?

Question

I was told that it was prohibited to eat or to bring food into the bathroom but when I told someone about this they laughed and said I was wrong. What is the ruling?

Summary of answer

It is not appropriate for the Muslim to enter the bathroom except for the purpose of relieving himself, and when he enters the bathroom he should refrain from eating and drinking until he comes out.

Answer

Praise be to Allah.

Bathrooms are for relieving oneself, not for eating and drinking, so it is not appropriate for the Muslim to enter them except for the purpose of relieving himself, and when he enters the bathroom he should refrain from eating and drinking until he comes out. 

If a person eats and drinks inside the bathroom when there is no need to do so, then he has done something which is contrary to sound human nature (Fitrah). 

Shaykh Ibn `Uthaymin (may Allah have mercy on him) was asked about the ruling on eating and drinking in the bathroom. 

He replied: 

“The bathroom is a place for relieving oneself only and one should not stay there longer than is necessary. Eating or doing other things there requires staying there for a length of time that is not appropriate." ( Majmu` Al-Fatawa, 11/110 )

For more details, please refer to the following answers:  297964 , 2532 , 83393 , 783702062021195 , and 2255 , 21895 .

And Allah knows best.

Was this answer helpful?

Source: Islam Q&A