call

As-Salamu `alaykum! Dear brothers, some people say that you cannot face the qiblah when you go to the toilet and neither should your back be in that direction. Others say that this statement is only correct if you are in an open place and there is no harm if a partition is between the qiblah and the person answering the call of nature. Yet, others say that this statement applies only to Makkah. Please guide us. May Allah reward you all for this great site!

As-Salamu `Alaykum. A group of people was praying in congregation at home when the telephone started ringing, and it distracted them for a long time. Is it permissible in such cases for the praying person to take a few steps forwards or backwards and pick the receiver and say “Allaahu Akbar” or raise his voice in recitation to make the caller know that he is praying?