Can You Say Dua After Wudu in the Bathroom? A Comprehensive Guide

Hi again! In several previous articles, I have discussed many aspects of dua after wudu. I highly recommend reading those articles to gain a better understanding of dua after wudu. In this article, I will explain a specific topic related to dua after wudu (along with two other points) that you should understand well: Can you say dua after wudu in the bathroom?

Regardless of your reason for reading this article, I am confident you are seeking clarity on the legality of saying dua after wudu in the bathroom. Trust me! I will not disappoint you today. That is what I will explain now, so please read the explanation below carefully.

Dua After Wudu: Is It a Recommendation or an Obligation?

Hi! First, I will address a fundamental question regarding prayer after wudu: Is saying dua after wudu a recommendation or an obligation? Some Muslims do not fully understand this distinction. I believe you don’t want to be among them, right? So, please read the explanation below carefully.

By the way, have you read the article titled "Forgetting to Say Dua After Wudu," which I published a few days ago? In that article, I explained several reasons why dua after wudu is recommended rather than obligatory. I highly encourage you to read that article to gain a clearer understanding of what we are discussing now.

Read Also: What Types of Farts Break Wudu?

In general, what I explained in the previous article supports the argument that dua after wudu is a recommendation, not an obligation. This means that Muslims are strongly encouraged to say dua after wudu because it offers numerous benefits: the eight doors of Heaven will open for those who perform wudu perfectly and recite dua after it. Thus, they would not be sinning if they do not say it.

The basis for the argument that dua after wudu is recommended is the following hadith:

عَنْ عُمَرَ رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ : قَالَ رَسُوْلُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ :مَا مِنْكُمْ مِنْ أَحَدٍ يَتَوَضَّأُ فَيُسْبِغُ الْوُضُوْءَ ثُمَّ يَقُوْلُ : أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيْكَ لَهُ وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُوْلُهُ , إِلَّا فُتِحَتْ لَهُ أَبْوَابُ الْجَنَّةِ الثَّمَانِيَّةِ يَدْخُلُ مِنْ أَيِّهَا شَاءَ . أَخْرَجَهُ مُسْلِمٌ وَالتِّرْمِذِيُّ وَزَادَ : اَللَّهُمَّ اجْعَلْنِيْ مِنَ التَّوَّابِيْنَ وَاجْعَلْنِيْ مِنَ الْمُتَطَهِّرِيْنَ

From Umar radliyallahu anhu, he said, "The Messenger of Allah (Prophet Muhammad) alaihi wa sallam said, 'It is not one of you who performs wudu then perfects it, and then says, "I testify that there is no god but Allah who has no partner, and I testify that Muhammad is His servant and His Messenger," except that the eight doors of Heaven are opened for him. He can enter through any door he wishes.' The hadith is narrated by Muslim and at-Tirmidhi. He (at-Tirmidhi) added, 'O Allah, make me among those who repent and make me among those who are purified.'"

The hadith above does not indicate that saying dua after wudu is obligatory. Therefore, the conclusion is that dua after wudu is recommended for Muslims.

Places Where Dua Cannot Be Said

Are you still with me? Now, I will explain the places where dua cannot be said. It’s essential to understand this well, as it will help you grasp the main topic of this discussion.

Generally, if you consult some Islamic legal literature, you will not find specific guidelines on places where dua cannot be said. In other words, you can recite dua anywhere—at home, in the mosque, at work, in the bathroom, and so on.

However, one important point to understand is that there are etiquettes associated with saying dua in Islamic teachings. The etiquette I refer to suggests that Muslims should avoid saying dua in impure places, such as the bathroom. The reason is that these are places where we urinate and defecate. Muslims are strongly advised not to recite any sacred phrases there. By sacred phrases, I mean those that contain the names of Allah.

Below is one of Ibn Abidin's opinions regarding the recitation of sacred phrases in the bathroom that you should be aware of:

قَالَ اِبْنُ عَابِدِيْنَ : لَوْ تَوَضَّأَ فِي الْخَلَاءِ فَهَلْ يَأْتَيْ بِالْبَسْمَلَةِ وَغَيْرِهَا مِنْ أَدْعِيَةِ الْوُضُوْءِ مُرَاعَاةً لِسُنَّتِهِ ؟ أَوْ يَتْرُكُهَا مُرَاعَاةً لِلْمَحَلِّ ؟ قَالَ : الَّذِيْ يَظْهَرُ الثَّانِيُّ لِتَصْرِيْحِهِمْ بِتَقْدِيِمِ النَّهْيِ عَلَى الْأَمْرِ وَهُوَ مُقْتَضَى مَا عِنْدَ الْحَنَابِلَةِ مِنْ أَنَّ التَّسْمِيَّةَ فِي الْوُضُوْءِ وَاجِبَةٌ ، وَأَنَّ الذِّكْرَ بِالْقَلْبِ لَا يُكْرَهُ ، وَذَهَبَ الْمَالِكِيَّةُ إِلَى يُكْرَهُ الذِّكْرُ فِي الْخَلَاءِ

Ibn Abidin said, "If someone performs wudu in the bathroom, should he recite Bismillah and other sunnahs of the wudu dua to uphold the sunnah, or should he refrain because of the place?" Ibn Abidin responded, "The clear opinion is to abandon the sunnah because the majority of Islamic legal experts prioritize prohibitions over commands. This aligns with the view of scholars from the Hanbali school, who assert that saying Bismillah is obligatory in wudu. However, reciting dhikr in the heart is not considered makruh. According to the scholars from the Maliki school, dhikr in the bathroom is makruh."

Can You Say Dua After Wudu in the Bathroom?

Now, I will address the main question in this discussion: Can you say dua after wudu in the bathroom? Please read the explanation below carefully to ensure there are no further questions about it. Of course, if you still have questions, feel free to write them in the comments section; I would love to engage in a dialogue with you.

If you have understood everything I have explained in the previous paragraphs, you already know the answer to the main question in this discussion. However, if you are still unsure or hesitant, please pay attention to the answer below:

You can say dua after wudu in the bathroom, but you should avoid saying it aloud. However, it is preferable not to recite it there at all.

Do you have any questions? Please write them in the comments!