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Should one enter the lavatory with the right foot if not for the purpose of relieving oneself, such as for washing hands or showering?

1 min readAlso available in العربية

Whoever enters the lavatory with his right foot has abandoned a Sunnah. Therefore, it is preferable to enter with the left foot, whether for relieving oneself or for bathing. This is because, for matters of honor, it is desirable to present the right [foot/hand], while the opposite (like the bathroom) makes it desirable to present the left. Scholars have based this on the hadith of Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to prefer starting with the right in all his affairs: in his purification, in combing his hair, and in putting on his sandals. This is also supported by Aisha's hadith: "The right hand of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) was for his purification and his food, and his left hand was for his lavatory and for what was harmful." Similarly, the hadith of Hafsa states: "The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) used to use his right hand for his food, drink, and clothing, and his left hand for everything else."

Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026

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