Honour the Sensibilities of Recording Angels

The Prophet (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said: “Honour the noble scribes who only leave you at two times: in Janaba and when you relieve yourselves. When one of you has a Ghusl, he should screen himself with a wall or his camel, or his brother should screen him.” [Ibn Abi Hatim]

The “noble scribes” are two angels that accompany each human being and record each of his/her words and deeds. They wish to give us privacy and move a little away when we need to undress. We should honour them as they honour us. Although we cannot see them, they can see us. Thus, when we go for a bath we should screen ourselves.

A Muslim does not stay naked even when he is all by himself. This is because he is aware of the angels that always accompany him and does not wish to distress them.

Jinn are also beings that can see us while we cannot see them. Saying “Bismillah” creates a curtain between us and the eyes of the Jinn. Thus, whenever we have to take our clothes off we should say Bismillah first, to shield ourselves from their eyes.

We should shield ourselves from people’s eyes too when we go for a bath. It is not of the culture of Islam to flaunt nudity.