Is it true that Muslims don’t use toilet paper? And, is there a left hand/right hand rule with this concern?
The Master speaks. (With a bonus on G-Spots!)
Happy
Darn! I coulnd’t open that site. I bet which hand they use doens’t matter but which way they face when they wipe themselves does! <eg>
AN Islamic book called “A Manual of Hadith” by Maulana Muhammad Ali presenting rules of conduct for Muslims based on what the Prophet said and did has rules for “Purification.”
10 Aishah said.
The right hand of the Messenger of Allah * was for his ablution and food, ahd his left hans for dleansing after easing himself and for removing noxious things. (AD-Msh. 3:2 )
6 Abud Allah said.
The Prophet went to ease himself and he asked me to bring him three pebbles. (B. 4:21)
7 Aishah said>
The Messenger of Allah * said: “When one of you goes to ease himself, let him take with him three pebbles with which to clean himself, for these will suffice him.” AD-Msh. 3:2 )
A parenthetical statement is always inserted following every mention of “The Messenger of Allah,” * = peace and blessings of Allah be on him,"
Yes as a practical matter toilet paper is allowed.
Can you picture a bucket of ‘pebbles’ near the commode and the calamity that would insue from flushing such?
Back in the day, perhaps.
The Halal store where I buy some of my things carries toliet paper, and the Muslim homes I’ve visited have TP, right there on the roll holder.
Additionally, when I’ve worked with Muslim women, they don’t go into the ladies room stall and shriek: “Aaaaaah! What is this horrible paper in my private place? Where are the pebbles!”
Three pebbles > Three seashells ??
Thank Allah for that. Pebbles indeed! It’s difficult enough to find a decent “skimmer” on the beach as it is!
ok…I have to ask the naive question - 3 pebbles? how? why??
(snickering at Outrider) He doesn’t know how to use pebbles! (snicker)
Various sources such as here mention that in the late 19th century, in coastal regions, mussel shells were used. j.c. Having toilet paper around doesn’t preclude washing. Many people, even non-Muslims, wash and use the paper for drying purposes.
Every muslim home or masjid I have been in has TP. Many also have little sprinkler cans for washing up.
I don’t know anyone who uses the pebbles.
Martin
Thank you for FINALLY solving this riddle 
I shared a house with several Pakistani Muslims when I was at college. They each had a squeezy bottle full of water to bring to the toilet with them - no toilet paper in sight.
But this habit isn’t confined to Muslims - in many parts of Thailand and Vietnam that I’ve visited, it’s the old water & left-hand treatment too - no TP provided.
Some Indian novels I have read have had Indian characters expressing shock at the “dirty” westerners who “only use paper, no water”.
Personally I prefer this treatment. You wash the shit out of your left hand afterwards (pun intended), and you get yourself as clean as a whistle. Also leads to less abrasion on the ringpiece.
Minor, but silly, aside.
I discovered when I was living with a Catholic woman from Zamboanga that some of the Catholics on Mindanao would use their right hands for cleaning certain areas of the body. I asked her why. Her response was: “So we can use that hand when we shake hands with the Muslims.”
Pretty juvenile, huh?
So among themselves, did they shake hands with the left?
Well, you’re wrong on the hand thing, as others have noted, but you are right about the way things face. The toilet should not, under any circumstances face the Qibla…
Colibri: Nope (blech!). But they did use their right hands to eat their food (blech[sup]2[/sup]), since it wasn’t a big thing for them. It’s not Islam, after all, that dictates the practice of reserving one hand for bodily functions and the other for food & fun; it’s culture.
Actually Monty, it is Islam that dictates the use of the right hand for food.
Manson: Could you quote a verse from the Qur’an?
Yeah. Not at all grown-up. Like, say, blowing them away? 
I’ve never understood how anyone can think they’re insulting someone who doesn’t know about the insult.
Anyway, my friend and coworker (a devout muslim, from Egypt) said everyone he knows uses paper followed by washing. Sometimes, when he would share his lunch with me, he would take food from his dish and put it in mine. He didn’t trust my foul fingers. 
Peace,
mangeorge