A Toilet Built Facing the Qibla

Question

A benefactor, from his joint income, had a toilet built for the imam of the mosque, which every person will use, and that only at night; otherwise it will remain locked at all times. In keeping with the layout of the building, with regard to purity and cleanliness, the footrests have been made facing a direction such that it has now occurred to us that using them will involve facing the qibla (which is a matter of disagreement among the imams). Can turning the chest away slightly suffice to avoid this?

Answer

Merely turning the chest away is not sufficient according to the Hanafis. If the sitting posture becomes such that one faces north or south and no longer faces [the qibla], then it is correct. However, this toilet’s exclusiveness and restriction will not remain forever; rather, it will come to an end and other people too will use it at some time; and even in the present…

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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