In Egypt, they say to the one who comes out of the restroom, "May you be healed," and he says to them, "May Allah heal you and grant you well-being." Is there any harm in this, or is it considered an innovation?
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The questioner : In Egypt, they say to the one who comes out of the restroom: "May you be healed," and he says to them: "May Allah heal you and grant you well-being." Is there any harm in this, or is it considered an innovation? If it is an innovation, we ask for the evidence? Also, what should the one praying behind the imam do when he finishes reciting al-Fatihah in the loud prayers and the imam has not yet started reciting the surah? Should he remain silent, repeat al-Fatihah, or start reciting the surah?
The Shaykh : As for the first issue: when the one who has relieved himself comes out, they say to him, "May Allah heal you." This has no basis, and the righteous predecessors did not do this, and they are the best example for us. It is prescribed for a person, when he intends to enter the restroom to relieve himself of urine or feces, to put his left foot forward and say upon entering: And when he comes out, he puts his right foot forward and says: Sunan Ibn Majah 301Da'if (Darussalam) And if he limits himself to saying: that is good. As for this supplication mentioned by the questioner, it has no basis, and people should not make it a habit, because when such matters are made a habit, they become a sunnah, and people think they are prescribed, whereas they are not prescribed.
As for the second issue: if the imam remains silent after reciting al-Fatihah, and the one praying behind him recites it before the imam begins reciting the surah, what should the one praying behind the imam do after reciting al-Fatihah while the imam is still silent?
The answer to this is: we say to the imam first, it is not befitting for you to remain silent this long silence between reciting al-Fatihah and reciting what follows it. It is prescribed for you to pause briefly between al-Fatihah and the surah that follows it, so that the obligatory recitation and the recommended recitation are distinguished by this. The one praying behind the imam should begin reciting al-Fatihah during this brief pause and complete reciting al-Fatihah, even if the imam is reciting. As for the long silence of the imam, that is contrary to the sunnah. Then, assuming the imam does this and remains silent this long silence, if the one praying behind the imam recites al-Fatihah and completes it, he should recite a surah after it until the imam begins reciting the surah after al-Fatihah, and at that time he should remain silent, because it is not permissible for the one praying behind the imam to recite while the imam is reciting, except for reciting al-Fatihah only.
The Shaykh : As for the first issue: when the one who has relieved himself comes out, they say to him, "May Allah heal you." This has no basis, and the righteous predecessors did not do this, and they are the best example for us. It is prescribed for a person, when he intends to enter the restroom to relieve himself of urine or feces, to put his left foot forward and say upon entering:
In the name of Allah, I seek refuge in Allah from the male and female evil ones
بسم الله أعوذ بالله من الخبث والخبائثAl-hamdu lillahilladhi adhhaba 'annial-adha wa 'afani (Praise is to Allah Who has relieved me of impurity and given me good health)
غفرانك ، الحمد الله الذي أذهب عني الأذى وعافانيForgiveness is Yours
غفرانكAs for the second issue: if the imam remains silent after reciting al-Fatihah, and the one praying behind him recites it before the imam begins reciting the surah, what should the one praying behind the imam do after reciting al-Fatihah while the imam is still silent?
The answer to this is: we say to the imam first, it is not befitting for you to remain silent this long silence between reciting al-Fatihah and reciting what follows it. It is prescribed for you to pause briefly between al-Fatihah and the surah that follows it, so that the obligatory recitation and the recommended recitation are distinguished by this. The one praying behind the imam should begin reciting al-Fatihah during this brief pause and complete reciting al-Fatihah, even if the imam is reciting. As for the long silence of the imam, that is contrary to the sunnah. Then, assuming the imam does this and remains silent this long silence, if the one praying behind the imam recites al-Fatihah and completes it, he should recite a surah after it until the imam begins reciting the surah after al-Fatihah, and at that time he should remain silent, because it is not permissible for the one praying behind the imam to recite while the imam is reciting, except for reciting al-Fatihah only.