My feed
Premium

Please
or
to access all these features

Whether you're considering emigrating or an expat abroad, you'll find likeminds on this forum.

Living overseas

Muslim toilet etiquette

117 replies

LoopyLoopsOlympicHoops · 08/08/2012 15:53

Please explain to me a few things. With the water hose thing, how do people dry themselves? There is rarely any paper.

My landlord (lady actually I presume) left, amongst other things, disposable knickers in the bathroom. Is this common or quirky?

The squatting on the toilet seat thing. Footprints. Why?

Sorry, I sound so intolerant today - don't mean to be, just flummoxed. :)

OP posts:
Report
BetterOnACamel · 08/08/2012 18:53

I'm from a country that swears by it's Muslim showers, and I miss them like crazy, but I don't get the no TP thing either (have friends who don't use paper and it's been flummoxing me for ages!) - love the clean but need the TP to dry off. Keep picturing them running around to air dry, teehee. Squatting on a toilet seat is just icky, I imagine because they're used to the squat toilet (basically a glorified hole in the ground). The disposable knickers is new to me. Hmm

Report
AwaitingResults · 08/08/2012 19:05

Take some toilet paper with you to dry if there isnt any.

Never seen disposable knickers in the bathroom, where are you renting?

Several people I know squat on toilet seats in the UK. It is the most easiest and natural way to relieve yourself. Try it!!! Do wipe the seat afterwards so there are no footprints left!

Report
laptopwieldingharpy · 09/08/2012 02:46

For starters, you get the medal for most ignorant offensive thread title.

What riles you? squatting or keeping yourself clean by washing up after the deed?

Squatting toilets are the norm and denote lack of money to install a sitting toilet bowl, not religious affiliation.
They are the norm throughout asia and have no bearing with them being muslim. Billions of Indians, Chinese, japanese etc use them everyday.And they wash themselves too because its HYGIENIC.

To dry yourself I would suggest buying your own towels?
You expect your landlord to leave behind towels that you will use for your intimate hygiene?

Report
Muststudy · 09/08/2012 04:48

Disposable kinickers - nothing to do with religion?!

And what laptop said.

Report
Graciescotland · 09/08/2012 05:16

I don't think squatting toilets necessarily denote lack of money to install a sitting bowl, I was in a fancy hotel in Singapore and their toilet cubicles were a mix of western style and squatting toilets.

It's just personal preference/ how you were raised.

Apparently squatting is better for you. A sitting toilet makes you, ahem, strain more which can cause heart attacks for those at risk.

Report
MrsBucketxx · 09/08/2012 08:55

loopy i thought the same too while was there not offensive just curious.

and the very tiny step into every bathroom, caught me out everytime. and my toddling dc's even more Grin

Report
laptopwieldingharpy · 09/08/2012 08:55

True Gracie, was going to use singapore as an example, but I suspect the OP has not been around much to understand its a relevant example so could not be bothered to elaborate.

Report
LoopyLoopsOlympicHoops · 09/08/2012 09:30

Crikey, quick to take offense much?

I'm in Malaysia. I don't expect the landlord to provide any of these things, but, oddly, he has.

So you take towels to public loos? In a restaurant? What do you use there? Do you mean fabric towels? Is that really hygenic?

And get off your high horse for crying out loud harpy.

OP posts:
Report
LoopyLoopsOlympicHoops · 09/08/2012 09:33

ps I don't believe I'm the one who is 'riled' Hmm

OP posts:
Report
MummyPigsFatTummy · 09/08/2012 09:51

Squatting toilets are also still common (although less than they were) in France and possibly other parts of Europe, although I am not so sure about the shower part, at least not in public loos. They tend to have loo paper in my experience, but bidets of course are also a French/European(?) thing in private bathrooms.

Doctors are now starting to suggest people raise their knees on the loo when using a toilet seat in order to be in the most natural position (as mentioned above). Peronally I think this is likely to be more comfortable and relaxing than trying to balance on the toilet seat!

However, I agree with LoopyLoops - there is no need to immediately take offence at someone asking for information. Just because someone doesn't have a broad wordly knowledge of toilet etiquette round the world doesn't make them automatically offensive if they ask about it. If you are in a Muslim country like Malaysia, have a landlord who is Muslim perhaps and know that there are Muslim customs in relation to hygiene in certain areas (washing before praying, for example), it is hardly offensive to draw a conclusion that something like the OP describes might be a Muslim way of doing things of which she was not aware. Admittedly, the title could perhaps have done with a question mark, but I think it is a bit harsh to attack the OP over this.

Report
BetterOnACamel · 09/08/2012 10:59

Incidentally, the little hose thing is actually called a 'Muslim shower' by Muslims. No one considers it offensive, bit of a source of pride having a clean bum. And squatting is more of a preference than a financial issue imho as Graciescotland said.

Report
natation · 09/08/2012 11:09

Another ignorant person, is it common throughout the world which uses water to wash your bottom to ALWAYS you only your left hand, or are there countries where it's the right hand?

Report
laptopwieldingharpy · 09/08/2012 12:12

Oh loopy, could you have the decency to admit to to bad form in your OP? You are posting in living overseas not AIBU.

You take baby wipes to wipes in public loos if you are bothered about personal hygiene.
I do not take offence to someone aking for info.
I do take offence at someone being casually racist about someone else's custom. If you can make better life for yourself in the UK stay there.
If you chose to be an immigrant somewhere else, get on with it.

Report
laptopwieldingharpy · 09/08/2012 12:13

Natation, you are being unnecessary and ignorantly inflamatory

Report
Toughasoldboots · 09/08/2012 12:15

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

laptopwieldingharpy · 09/08/2012 12:16

Muslim toilets?
Not OTT?

Report
laptopwieldingharpy · 09/08/2012 12:20

Am compelled to refer to the lowest minimum denominator and redirect you to wikipedia here
Muslim?

Report
Toughasoldboots · 09/08/2012 12:20

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

laptopwieldingharpy · 09/08/2012 12:21

So yes, blimey! Casually racist?

Report
Toughasoldboots · 09/08/2012 12:22

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

laptopwieldingharpy · 09/08/2012 12:29

Good then.

Report
MummyPigsFatTummy · 09/08/2012 12:33

Islam is not a race. It is a religion. So references to Muslim anything cannot by definition be racist. Offensive possibly, depending what the references are, though I am with those who don't think this OP is.

Report

Don’t want to miss threads like this?

Weekly

Sign up to our weekly round up and get all the best threads sent straight to your inbox!

Log in to update your newsletter preferences.

You've subscribed!

Windsock · 09/08/2012 12:34

People squat on a toilet seat wrf? Are they bloody contortionistS ?

Report
natation · 09/08/2012 12:35

It's a genuine question, when are earth do you think it is inflammatory? Wherever i have gone in the world, it has always been left hand one thing right hand another, for simple hygiene reasons! Just though there might be exceptions, you know like in Bulgaria where you nod for no!!!! There seems to be one person in the entire thread who is being inflammatory.

Report
laptopwieldingharpy · 09/08/2012 12:44

It IS a genuine question but NOT an innocuous title, please have the decency to admit it.
You live in France. You should know bettter.

Report
Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.