in ruins and unclean places like bathrooms, dunghills, garbage dumps
and graveyards. Hence the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be
upon him) taught us to take precautions when entering such places, by
reciting the adhkaar (prayers) prescribed by Islam. One of these was
reported by Anas ibn Maalik (may Allaah be pleased with him), who
said: "When the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be
upon him) entered the toilet, he would say, 'Allaahumma innee a'oodhu
bika min al-khubuthi wa'l-khabaa'ith (O Allaah, I seek refuge with You
from the evil ones, male and female).'" (Reported by al-Bukhaari, 142;
and Muslim, 375).
Al-Khattaabi explained that khubuth is the plural of khabeeth (evil or
dirty -masculine form), and khabaa'ith is the plural of khabeethah
(evil or dirty -feminine form), and that what is meant is male
andfemale shayaateen.
--
- - - - - - -