Question:
Is it permissible to say “As-salāmu ʿalaykum” while being inside the bathroom? Suppose we are sitting outside and someone from inside the bathroom says “As-salāmu ʿalaykum,” or we greet someone who happens to be inside the bathroom—can salam be given or replied from there?
Answer:
Regarding this, there is a hadith reported in Sunan al-Nasa’i, Jami’ al-Tirmidhi, and Sunan Abu Dawood. It is a sound narration reported by Abdullah ibn Umar. In that narration it is mentioned that a man passed by Prophet Muhammad while the Prophet was urinating. The Prophet had gone aside and was relieving himself.
At that moment a man passed by and greeted him saying “As-salāmu ʿalaykum.” Normally, when salam is given, it must be returned. Saying salam is a sunnah, but replying to salam is obligatory.
Yet in that situation the Prophet did not respond to the salam. The narration clearly states that he did not return the greeting. When the Prophet himself refrained from replying, even though replying is obligatory in normal circumstances, it shows that such a place is not suitable for giving salam or replying to salam. If the Prophet did not reply, what does that mean? It means this is not a place for that greeting.
Therefore, one should not give salam from inside the bathroom, nor respond to salam while inside. This hadith itself is sufficient evidence for that ruling.