[Q 546] Shar‘i Ruling of Standing Urination

QUESTION:

How is it to urinate standing up?

ANSWER:

Urinating while standing without any necessity is Makrooh (disliked) because it contains several harms. For example, urine droplets may splash onto the body and clothes, due to which the clothes become Napaak (impure). These droplets can also become a cause of the punishment of the grave. Furthermore, urinating while standing is the method of the Nasara (Christians).

Sadr-us-Shari‘ah Badr-ut-Tariqah Mufti Amjad Ali A‘zami رحمۃ اللہ تعالی علیہ states:
“Urinating while standing or lying down is Makrooh (disliked).”

(Bahar-e-Shari‘at, Volume 1, Part 2, Page 409)

Imam-e-Ahl-e-Sunnat Sayyidi A‘la Hazrat Imam Ahmad Raza Khan علیہ رحمۃ الرحمن states:
“I say: There are four harms in urinating while standing.

First: Urine splashing onto the body and clothes, making the body and clothing impure without a Shar‘i necessity, and this is Haraam (forbidden).

Second: Due to these splashes, taking upon oneself entitlement to the punishment of the grave. Rasulullah صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم said: تنزھوا من البول فان عامۃ عذاب القبر منہ — Protect yourselves from urine, for most of the punishment of the grave is because of it.

Third: If it is on a pathway or where people are present, it causes exposure. When sitting, the thighs and knees provide cover, whereas standing results in complete exposure, and this is a cause of divine curse.
*Fourth:* This is resemblance (Tashabbuh – imitation) with the Nasara (Christians) and following their blameworthy practice, and this leads to punishment and retribution. Rasulullah صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم said: من تشبّہ بقوم فھو منھم — Whoever imitates a people is from them.”

(Fatawa Razawiyyah, Volume 4, Pages 585–587, summarized)

Answered by: Hafiz Jahanzaib (Ask Mufti scholar)
Translated answer
Date: 29th December 2025.