Is it permissible to greet or return a greeting while relieving oneself?

Chapter on Cleaning oneself (Istitabah) and Impurity (Hadath)

Al-Mughni

Book of Purification

Book 2 · Issue 20 · Bab 6

Open in Qurani

Primary text

One should neither initiate a greeting nor return one to a Muslim while relieving oneself. This is established because a man greeted the Prophet (peace be upon him) while he was urinating, and the Prophet (peace be upon him) did not return the greeting, explaining that one should not greet him in such a state.