Muslim-only toilets for LaTrobe University

[William of the White Hand]

http://www.news.com.au/sundayheraldsun/story/0,21985,21129518-2862,00.html

Muslim-only washroom LaTrobe University

Row over washrooms
Mary Papadakis

January 28, 2007 12:00am


A ROW has erupted over Muslim-only washrooms at La Trobe University that can be accessed only with a secret push-button code.

Muslim students have exclusive access to male and female washrooms on campus, sparking claims of bias and discrimination.

The university and Islamic leaders have defended the washrooms as vital to Muslim students' prayer rituals.

A university student, who did not want to be identified, raised the issue with the Sunday Herald Sun this week.

Australian Family Council spokesman Bill Muehlenberg said concerns over the exclusive facilities were valid.

"Do we have a Christian washroom or an atheist washroom?" he said. "The whole thing is madness."

Mr Muehlenberg said the separate facilities were divisive.

"If Muslims are saying 'we are good Australians and want to integrate', why are they insisting on separate washrooms?" he said.

Victorian Muslim community leader Yasser Soliman said the washrooms were necessary.

He said the separate facilities were also due to concerns from non-Muslim students.

"Muslims need to wash their feet before prayer and in the past there have been complaints about them washing their feet in sinks, so this is a happy medium," he said.

Mr Soliman said most universities provided Muslim-only prayer and washrooms for students.

A La Trobe University spokesman said the washrooms were established with the advice of senior Muslim religious leaders.

He said the university also had a Christian chapel with a meeting room and four chaplains from major denominations had offices.

La Trobe University Christian Union vice-president Richard Thamm backed the washrooms.

"It's part of their religion, they need to wash in a special way before they pray," he said.

 

[William of the White Hand]

Re: Muslim only toilets for LaTrobe University

For architects and designers to build restrooms people will be happy to use, these not-so-basic requirements should be regarded carefully.

Tan Kok Hiang, Partner of Singapore-based Forum Architects articulated this requirement best when he inferred, “Any community has sensitivities. The challenges faced (by architects) are no different from designing for any other group of people."

One such group of people who have special requirements when it comes to using restrooms are Muslims, who make up one billion of the world population.

Entering
The Qur’an states that one should enter the restroom with left foot first while saying a prayer of protection. It is not permissible to enter a restroom while carrying anything that bears the name of Allah, such as the Qur’an, or any book with the name of Allah in it, or jewelry such as bracelets and necklaces engraved with the name of Allah. Muslims should keep silent when in the restroom. Thus, talking, reading, greeting others and answering greetings are not to be done.

Seclusion
“When the Prophet felt the need of relieving himself, he went far off where no one could see him”. It is implied that one should be out of sight, thus doors of toilets should be securely closed. Privacy is therefore a major requirement when providing restroom facilities for Muslim users. Muslim women specifically have problems with Western-style public restrooms because they find stalls with gaps between the floor and wall too immodest. This makes installation of floor-to-wall dividers and louvered doors a necessity.

As an added note, the Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “To put a barrier that will prevent the jinn from seeing the ’awrah of the sons of Aadam".

One should always move and hide away from others when relieving oneself. Jaabir (radiyallaahu ’anhu) relates that, “When the Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) felt the need of relieving himself, he went far off where no one could see him.” He (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) would also take the added precaution of not raising his garment until he had lowered himself near the ground, since, even thought he would go to a far off place to relieve himself, the area was still open, so there was still the possibility of being seen. This is an indication of extreme sense of modesty and shyness which the Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) possesses. In contrast, we see the disbelievers, especially the men, who feel no shame in using public urinals, exposing themselves to everyone. There are certain places which we have been expressly told to avoid when relieving oneself. The Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “Beware of those acts which cause other to curse.” They asked, “What are those acts,” he said, “Relieving yourself in the people’s pathways or in their shade [under trees].” [8] This hadeeth illustrates beautifully how Islam safeguards the rights of one and all. Again, in marked contrast to this, we find the manners of the disbelievers, whose inconsiderate behaviour leaves foul stenches in several phone booths and subways. Not only that, but they see no wrong in walking their dogs with the specified purpose of fouling the paths, causing harm and offence to others.

Prohibition facing the Qiblah
Islam prohibits facing the Qiblah while defecating. The Prophet said “if you go to defecate, do not face the Qiblah nor turn your back toward it. Instead, you should turn to your left side or your right side”.

Squatting
Muslims are encouraged to urinate while sitting or squatting and not while standing since this was the usual practice of the Prophet. Although standing is not forbidden as the Prophet is also reported to have done so.

Cleaning
It is forbidden to use the right hand in order to clean oneself from the impurities of urine and feces. The Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “None of you should touch his privates with his right hand whilst urinating nor should he wipe of feces with his right.”

Stepping Out
Muslims have a practice of leaving the toilet with right foot first as this is the usual practice of the Prophet. They utter a prayer of forgiveness as they leave the toilet.

http://www.restrooms.org/page03ar.html
http://www.troid.org/articles/ibaada...letmanners.htm