According to Top Urologist, Men should sit to Urinate, Reaffirming the Sunnah (Teaching of Prophet Mohammed saw)

• A Urologist has revealed men are emptying their bladders wrong, reaffirming the sunnah.

• This serves as another illustration that objections from non-Muslims towards the sunnah stem from animosity rather than rationality.

According to a leading urologist, Dr Gerald Collins, it is more hygienic and beneficial for bladder health if men urinate while seated.

After the release of a YouGov report on male urination practices, Dr Gerald Collins, a urological surgeon at the Alexandra Hospital in Cheshire, northwest England, asserted his opinion on the matter.

More than 7,000 men were surveyed internationally as part of a 13-country study conducted by YouGov, focusing on men’s preferences regarding urination habits.

The findings indicate that British men are among the least inclined to urinate while seated, as 33% of them stated that they “never” adopt this practice. In contrast, Germany ranked the highest, with 40% of men reporting that they always sit down to empty their bladders.

The fact that Germany ranked the highest is indeed unexpected, considering that in German culture, there is a derogatory term, “sitzpinkler,” used to describe men who sit while urinating, implying unmanly behaviour.

Dr Gerald Collins told the Telegraph that sitting was the most efficient way to urinate and argued for more men to adopt this practice.

According to Dr. Collins, sitting down guarantees the complete relaxation of muscles in the pelvis and spine, facilitating the thorough emptying of the bladder. He further emphasized that this practice is particularly advantageous for older men, as they are more susceptible to benign prostatic hyperplasia, also known as an enlarged prostate, which becomes more prevalent with advancing age.

Dr. Collins’ assertions are backed by previous research, including a 2014 report from the Leiden University Medical Centre in the Netherlands. This study concluded that sitting down while urinating can have advantages, as it facilitates a faster and more thorough emptying of the bladder.

Good Hygiene Practice

In addition to the health advantages, there are hygiene considerations that support the adoption of a seated position while urinating, effectively avoiding the problem of splashbacks.

In a 2021 survey, it was discovered that just over 60 percent of men in Japan favour sitting on the toilet when urinating as it helps ensure better accuracy and prevents unintended “splashbacks” that can result from standing.

In 2013, Professor Tadd Truscott, along with a colleague, conducted a study on the phenomenon of “splashback” caused by urination. Using a urination simulator and high-speed cameras, they investigated this issue, and their findings were presented at the 66th annual meeting of the American Physical Society’s Division of Fluid Dynamics.

Professor Truscott told the Guardian that when urinating, the stream initially emerges but begins to disintegrate into droplets after about 3 to 6 inches. This is where most of the issue arises. The droplets collide with each other, resulting in what is referred to as satellite droplets that splash off at significant angles. This phenomenon is responsible for the splashing onto items like toothbrushes.

The Professor went onto tell the Guardian that “If your toothbrush is 3 or 4 metres away you’re probably fine; if it’s just 1 or 2 metres, that’s not good.”

Aside from the splashing caused by the stream of urine, there is also the issue of splashback when the urine makes contact with the surface of the water in the toilet bowl as the Professor explained to the Guardian: “Water tends to have a large splash when droplets hit it from that height. That means a lot of splash can come out of the toilet. I was actually telling a friend tonight that when you pee into a toilet like that, you tend to pee on your toothbrush.”

Reaffirming the Sunnah

Muslim parents start instilling the practice of urinating while seated in their children from a young age, following the Sunnah (traditions and teachings) of the Messenger of Allah. They draw guidance from the documented practices and teachings of the Messenger of Allah to teach proper etiquette in this regard.

Muslims have embraced the practice of sitting while urinating, guided by the Sunnah, without relying on scientific validation or seeking external affirmation for their faith and confidence in this tradition. It is commendable that Muslims continue to adhere to this etiquette, even in the face of mockery and ridicule from non-Muslims who question the significance of teachings such as “your prophet teaches you how to pee?”

Repeatedly, we have observed non-Muslims ridiculing certain practices of Muslims, only to later adopt those practices themselves and acknowledge their benefits. A notable example is fasting, where non-Muslims initially express concern over the potential negative health effects on Muslims during the month of Ramadan, as well as the practice of fasting twice a week according to the Sunnah. However, over time, they come to appreciate the positive outcomes associated with these practices.

For younger readers, you are living in an era where the internet is abundant with information about the positive impact of fasting on weight loss for individuals particularly the benefits of intermittent fasting. However, a mere decade ago, fasting, primarily linked to Muslims, was regarded with scepticism and discussed in a negative manner.

Take a moment to compare these two screenshots, captured from the same news site, CNN, with a span of 15 years between them:

CNN.com – Is Ramadan fasting bad for health? – Nov. 6, 2003

Source: Screenshot taken from CNN article- Is fasting the fountain of youth? | CNN

Within CNN’s health subsection, fasting underwent a remarkable transformation from being perceived as detrimental to one’s health when practiced by Muslims to being hailed as the “fountain of youth” once it gained popularity among non-Muslims.

Such astonishing turnarounds are not exclusive to practices with potential scientific advantages. Older readers may vividly recall the remarkable shift in attitudes towards maintaining a beard. During the 90s and early 2000s, Muslim men and Sikh men faced the constant need to explain why they chose to keep beards. It was an era dominated by the clean-shaven man, and sporting a beard in a corporate setting was considered unprofessional. However, everything changed when white men began embracing beards, and suddenly Muslim men were no longer required to provide justifications for keeping their facial hair.

To grasp the absurdity of this situation, non-Muslim individuals were so disturbed by the presence of Muslim beards that Muslim men faced termination from their jobs for refusing to shave. In 2004, a British Muslim named Mohsin Mohmed was let-go from his position at Virgin Trains when he refused to trim his beard as instructed by his manager.

In 2011, news emerged about Abdulkadir Omar, an American individual who filed a lawsuit against his former employer, a security company that terminated his employment due to his refusal to shave his beard. Upon joining the company, a supervisor from headquarters informed him that he must remove his beard in accordance with company policy. Mr. Omar explained to the manager that his beard held religious significance for him and refused to comply with the shaving requirement. As a result, he was initially suspended and ultimately dismissed from his position the following spring, as stated in the lawsuit.

It is truly remarkable that in the past, beards were often ridiculed and regarded with disdain, but now we find ourselves in an era where non-Muslim men are willing to spend substantial amounts of money on beard transplants.

Do not seek the approval of others.

Although it is indeed gratifying for Muslims to come across news that affirms the practices and teachings of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) through scientific findings, such discoveries should not form the foundation of Muslim faith or be sought after for validation.

Throughout history, there have been numerous examples, including the aforementioned instances, that unfortunately indicate criticisms and negativity directed towards Muslims often stem from deep-seated animosity and hatred.

The inherent bias in human perception frequently results in the unfavourable judgment of certain characteristics when observed in individuals who are looked down upon. However, when those exact traits are displayed by individuals who are highly regarded, they often become subjects of admiration instead.

It is crucial to recognize that even if numerous teachings from the Quran and Sunnah are substantiated by scientific evidence, the majority of non-Muslims may still reject the truth of Islam. Therefore, rather than seeking validation from others, it’s important to remain steadfast and confident in our beliefs.