The Eastern Toilet: A Hajj Reflection
A reflection about the
unexpected Hajj experience that exposed the deeply rooted arrogance and
prejudice against others in the Ummah that I held in my heart
When I began telling people that I was
planning on going for Hajj, I was surprised to hear one piece of advice over
and over again—use the squatting toilets in Mina. Although I was eager to hear
suggestions on how to make my Hajj easier and better, deep down inside I knew
the issue of the Eastern toilet was one that I would have to fight the most
with. The only previous exposure I had to the Eastern toilet was when I avoided
it at all costs during the two-and-a-half month trip I took to Pakistan when I
was fourteen. I thought the toilet in the floor was gross and primitive and I
had no interest in using it then, and honestly no interest in using it while I
was at Hajj.
Ultimately, I decided to follow the advice I
heard about the squatting toilets, but I knew I had to figure out how to use
one and then get used to it. One of the things our Hajj leader emphasized was
that the easiest way to spoil the Hajj is through complaining about small
things. Getting used to the squatting toilet for me also meant getting over
myself, so I promised myself to exclusively use the squatting toilet while we
were in Makkah the days before Hajj started. I would keep up this regiment to
prepare myself mentally and spiritually for the days of atrocious bathroom
accommodations in Mina, and then as soon as I was out of my ihram, I’d go back
to the Western toilet. So, I began to use the Eastern toilet in our building
before the days of Hajj actually started.
Little did I expect, a terrible stomach bug
kicked in a couple days before Hajj started and it continued to plague me for
the rest of my trip, including the days of Hajj. My stomach bug and subsequent
GI issues were so horrid that I went from forcing myself to using the squatting
toilet to wanting to use it. Using the squatting toilet ended up being the only
way I could relieve myself painlessly. Coming to that realization broke down
years of prejudice I had against the Eastern toilet and, by extension, its
users. Having a Western toilet in Pakistan is considered “modern,” or “keeping
up with the Jones’s.” I had internalized that idea while I was in Pakistan, and
it added to my already negative opinion of the Eastern toilet. Coming from my
cushy American point-of-view, previously swearing to never use an Eastern
toilet in my life—I’m just so glad that I was proved wrong.
It’s sad to admit
this, but yes, my prejudice against the Eastern toilet exposed that the
superiority I felt towards many of my brothers and sisters in Islam simply
because of the place I was born in and continue to live in, and the subsequent
lifestyle of luxuries that being an American in my socioeconomic position
affords me. It was disgusting to feel that way deep inside, but I discovered it
during my Hajj journey. I heard from many people who have been on Hajj mystical
and mysteries sayings like you find out who you truly are at Hajj and Hajj is the biggest spiritual test. In many ways, I expected another issue to
come up along my journey, like getting mad or feeling lazy. But I was truly
surprised that a deep-rooted arrogance born out of nationalistic and
capitalistic ideals turned out to be the issue that revealed itself to me.
It wasn’t a glorious spiritual moment, nor
something to feel proud about (nor something to feel proud for sharing with
whoever reads this article.) Allah taught me in the most disgusting place with
the most disgusting instrument while I suffered from a disgusting sickness that
I am not superior to any other person of the Ummah, no matter where they are
from or what they have. This kind of mindset, which I attribute to the American
paradigm, is exactly what keeps the Ummah from being together as one. I’m not
saying I’ve been illuminated and have healed my heart from this sickness yet,
but my eyes have been opened, at least, through my humbling—no, I’d say
humiliating—lesson. The first step to fixing something is knowing that it is
broken, and inshaAllah one of the things I hope to work on is to rid my heart
of all and any arrogance.
Thanks to my Hajj
roommate’s suggestion, I currently have in my possession a Squatty Potty stool, which is the best I think I’m going to
get for the time being. It’s not as great as a real Eastern toilet, but hey,
it’s halfway there. When I think about using the stool now, I am reminded that
I have looked down upon others based on minute cultural differences and that I
have a lot of work left to do to rid myself of those prejudices
Source: Muslim Matters
The Eastern Toilet: A Hajj Reflection
Reviewed by Independent Hajj Reporters
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