In the name of Allah the Most Gracious the Most Merciful

Wisdom behind saying “Ghufraanak” after coming out of the bathroom

By Shaykh Muhammad bin Saalih al-’Uthaymeen may Allah have mercy on him

Question: What is your opinion regarding the saying of some of the scholars that the reason for the saying “ghufraanak” upon leaving the bathroom is because as one was restrained from the remembrance of Allah (due to being in the bathroom), that (now) is the appropriate time to seek Allah’s forgiveness (for this)? Is this correct?

Answer: This is the view, that the human being only refrains from the remembrance of Allah based on Allah’s commandment, and when it is by the command of Allah (that he refrains), then he is safe from punishment, rather he earns a reward (for doing so). This is why a woman who has her menses does not pray or fast. So is it legislated for her to seek Allah’s forgiveness once she becomes pure (from her menses) because she had stopped praying and fasting when she had her period!? Never, no one would ever say anything like this.

Therefore, it is clear that the reason is that the human being when he is relieved of a physical difficulty, he remembers  his sins and so he makes du’a to Allah that He relieves him of the burden of his sins, just as he was given ease from his physical burden. This is from the affairs of remembering one thing through another.