THE CHAPTER OF PURIFICATION · 10 – ENTERING THE LAVATORY WITH A RING BEARING GOD'S NAME
Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated:
The Prophet (peace and blessings upon him) would, when he went to relieve himself, remove his ring and place it somewhere [40].
Abu Dawud said: This hadith is anomalous. However, the following narration from Anas is well-known, transmitted through the chain of Ziyad ibn Sa’d via Ibn Jurayj from Zuriy: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings upon him) used to wear a silver ring, then he abandoned it.
The error in this narration is attributed to Hisham. For only Hisham narrates this honorable hadith.
EXPLANATION
This honorable hadith indicates that if a person has with them the names of Allah, the Prophet, or an angel and wishes to go to the lavatory, it is recommended that they remove it before entering. If they enter with these without necessity, they have committed something disliked. However, entering the lavatory with the Qur’an or certain verses is forbidden.
If it is left outside and there is fear of theft, or if it is covered with a cloth, this objection disappears. Furthermore, in situations of fear, the Qur'an should be covered or placed in a pocket to conceal it. This is the view of the four madhhabs (legal schools). (Al-Manhal vol. 1, p. 75)