Bathing (Ghusl)
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
SUNNAH OF GHUSL (BATH)
O Allah (The Exalted) O Lord of our master Muhammad (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) and the family of our master Muhammad (may Allah bless him and grant him peace), reward our master Muhammad (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) just as he is deserving.
Angels Do Not Enter The House
‘Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) said that, “Angels do not enter a house which has pictures (of living beings), dogs or the impure (junub).” i
We should keep our homes free from pictures as the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) disliked them.
Ghusl For Women
Mother of the believers Umme Salma (may Allah be pleased with him) said that, “Umme Sulaym (may Allah be pleased with him) told the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) that Allah (The Exalted) is not shy of speaking the truth, therefore I ask you, is it necessary for women to take ghusl if they have a notural emission?” The Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) replied, “Yes, if they noticed wetness.” Umme Salma (may Allah be pleased with him) covered her face and asked the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) do women have nocturnal emission? The Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) replied, ‘Yes, if this was not true then how does a child resemble the mother?’” ii
Before the wives of the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) become, mother of all believers, i.e. in the marriage of the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) they were free from having wet dreams as this is from the devil and the wives have been saved from the devil. iii Subhanallah!
Prophet’s (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) Bathing
Ibn ‘Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated through the mother of all believers Maymuna (may Allah be pleased with her) that she presented water to the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) for bathing and thereafter drew a curtain. The Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) first washed his hands, then he poured water with his right hand onto his left side, and thereafter he relieved himself. After relieving, he patted the earth (for cleansing); washing his hands, gargled, drew water up his nose, and washed his face and arms. Then poured water on his head and body. He moved away from that spot and washed his feet. When offered a towel to dry himself, he would accept it, but jerked his hands to drain off as much water as possible. iv
Bathe Behind Closed Doors
Abu Yali (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) noticed a man taking a bath in the open. The Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) later while addressing from the pulpit, he praised Allah (The Exalted) and said, “Allah (The Exalted) likes those who avoid shamelessness. Therefore, while bathing draw a curtain and be away from the gaze of others.” v
One should remember when going to the baths for swimming that the required body (Satre Aurat) is covered i.e. for men it is necessary to cover from the navel to and including the knees be in front of other men too. For sisters from the navel to the knees, only in front of other women with the condition there is no desire. vi
Punishment For Leaving a Space Dry
‘Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) stated that, “If one is negligent, and leaves a space even of the size of the width of hair unwashed while bathing for purity, he will be punished by fire.” vii
Respected brother/sister, it is important when in the state of impurity, you should not miss a single hair or even a pinpoint out. Make sure water reaches all parts of the body.
Urinating In The Bath
‘Abd Allah ibn Al-Mughaffal Al-Muzani (may Allah be pleased with him) also said that, “The Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace), also forbade urinating at the place where one takes a bath1.” viii
1 The version of Ahmad states: Then perform ablution there, for evil thoughts come from it. This could be a reason for the distraction in the Salaah. 2 www.GardensOfSunnah.co.uk
Only One Vessel
Ibn ‘Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) said that, “Maymuna (may Allah be pleased with her) reported to me that she and the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) took a bath from one vessel.” ix
The Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) would take a bath from only one small vessel. Today we spend a long time in the bath and use buckets and fill the bath up, we should never waste water as to waste anything in Islam is unlawful and forbidden.
From a Brass Vessel
Zaynab bint Jahash (may Allah be pleased with her) related that she had a brass tub. She said that she used to wash the head of the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) from water poured into it. x
From a Copper Vessel
‘Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) related that the big copper vessel used to be prepared for her and the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace), and they would take water from it together (for bathing). xi
Anas bin Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that, “The Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) would bathe with one Sa’a to five Madd of water and with one Madd he would perform ablution.” xii
Sa’a and Madd are measurements. One Sa’a is equivalent to 2.03 litres and five Madd is equivalent to 2.55 litres. The least amount of water used by the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) mentioned in the hadith is 1/3 of a Madd, which is equivalent to 0.17 litres and the most
Wasting The Gift Of Allah (The Exalted)
Once Mufti Azam-e-Hind, Muhammad Mustafa Raza (d.1981) ibn Ahmad Raza (d.1920) was at a place as a guest and nearby was a tap that was dripping. He called the host and explained to him the sin of wasting water and advised to fix this straightaway, for as long as it keeps dripping you will get the sin. The host said, ‘Huzoor!2 I will do it right away’, however, it was not put right for some time so Huzoor called him again and said,‘ I am leaving as you are not sorting this drip out and I feel uncomfortable and can see the gift of Allah (The Exalted) being wasted.’ The Host fixed the problem immediately and pleased him. xiii
2 Used to address someone with respect.
See how the friends of Allah (may Allah have mercy upon them all) feared Allah (The Exalted) however, we waste water and other gifts that Allah (The Exalted) has bestowed upon us. We buy water guns and water balloons for our children and let them waste water not thinking about those who don’t have water to drink! Think about it and don’t waste the gifts of Allah (The Exalted) otherwise we will be sorry if these gifts are taken away from us.
Shaking Of Water
The mother of the believers, Maymuna (may Allah be pleased with her) related that “She brought a cloth to the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) when he performed bath after intercourse. He handed it back and began to shake off water (from his body).” xiv
Using a Towel
In a hadith, the mother of the believers Maymuna (may Allah be pleased with her) explaining the method of bathing she states that I presented a towel to the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) and he did not take it but rinsed the water from his body. The narrator says that I mentioned this to Ibrahim who said the companions did not mind using a towel; however, they did not like to make a habit of it. xv
Ablution After Bathing
‘Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) related that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) performed bath and offered two cycles of prescribed prayer and then offered the dawn prescribed prayer. She did not think that he performed ablution after performing the bath. xvi
Many people have the misconception that you have to perform ablution after bathing as one is in the state of nakedness. Subhanallah! By removing clothing does not break your ablution nor by looking at someone else’s body does.
Imam Shafi states that four things make the body strong; eating meat, using scent, taking a bath, and putting on linen clothes. xvii 3 www.GardensOfSunnah.co.uk
Intention for Ghusal
Nawaytu An Agh Tasila Liraf ‘il Hadath
I bath for purification
Supplication after Ghusal
Allahummaj ‘Alni Minat-Tawwabeena Waj ‘Alni Minal Mutatah-Hireen
O Allah make me from those who make repentance and from those who are clean and from those who have neither fear nor sorrow.
Manners of Ghusl
The following is the order of taking Ghusl.
1. To make intention of bathing. Intention in the heart is sufficient. xviii
2. To wash hands up to the wrists.
3. To wash any impurity left on the body.
4. To wash the private parts whether there is a need for this or not.
5. To perform Wudhu (as one would for Salaah).
6. Pour water over right shoulder three times then the left shoulder.
7. Pour water over the head.
8. Pour water over the rest of the body.
9. Wash the feet.
10. Rub water all over the body three times as if rubbing oil.
11. To do all the above three times.
12. Not to face the Qibla (Makkah)
13. To bathe in a closed place.
14. Do not talk or pray anything whilst naked or in the bath.
15. Do not pray or read anything.
16. Put on clothing as soon as you complete bathing.
17. Do not wear unclean underwear and have a bath.
18. Do not waste water.
19. Do not wear anything with the name of Allah (The Exalted) or His Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace).
20. NOTE: there are three obligatory (Fardh) aspects in Ghusl, if these are missed then Ghusl will not be valid and if Ghusl is Fardh (obligatory) then you will stay impure until Ghusl is performed in the correct manner.
Fardh (Compulsory) Aspects In Ghusl
1. To wash the mouth thoroughly making sure water reaches the throat and between the teeth, gums under the tongue etc.
2. To rinse the nostril up to the soft bone making sure every hair is wet.
3. To wash all the body making sure no hair is left dry including the hair of the head.
What Aspects Makes it Obligatory To Bathe
There are five aspects that make it obligatory for a person to have a bath, and they are as follows;
1. The ejaculation of sperm from its place with lust.
2. To have a wet dream. Meaning nocturnal emission that is the releasing of sperm whilst sleeping.
3. The head of the penis to enter the vagina, whether it be with or without lust, with or without orgasm, the bathing would be obligatory on both.
4. To become clean from menstrual pause (period).
5. To become clean from blood after child birth.
4 www.GardensOfSunnah.co.uk
i Abu Dawood
ii Bukhari & Muslim
iii Nizam-e-Shariat, p. 48
iv Bukhari & Muslim
v Abu Dawood
vi Hindiya & Bahare Shairat; Vol: 17
vii Abu Dawood
viii Bukhari
ix Muslim
x Ibn Majah
xi Bukhari
xii Bukhari, Ablution. Jam’i-ul-Hadith, Vol: 1, p. 299. Fatawa-e-Razwiyya, Vol: 1, p. 579
xiii Faizane Sunnat, Manners of going to the toilet, p. 883
xiv Ibn Majah.
xv Bukhari. Abu Dawud, Taharah. Fatawa-e-Razwiya, Vol: 1, p. 239. Jam’i-ul-Hadith, Vol: 1, p. 255/6
xvi Abu Dawud, Ibn Majah and Nisa’i.
xvii Ihya by Al-Ghazali
xviii Fatawae Razwiyya; Volume: 3; Baab Shuroot Al-Salaah.
xix Hadiya, Alamgiri
xx Hadiya, Hindiya
xxi Hindiya etc.
If sperm was ejaculated from its place but not due to lust, i.e. it was done by lifting a heavy load or falling from a height, then to bathe is not obligatory, however, the ablution is broken.
If semen dropped but was very thin and it came out whilst urinating or on its own accord without lust then the bath does not become necessary but the ablution will break.
Things That Can And Cannot Be Done When Bathing Is Obligatory
- • It is strictly forbidden to enter a mosque, to perform Tawaf (of Kaa’ba), to touch the Qur’an, or any part of the Qur’an whether it is in sections or volumes,xix to pray the Qur’an whilst viewing it without touching it, to pray the Qur’an verbally, to wear or touch a ring with a word of the Qur’an written on it when it is obligatory for you to bathe.
- • If the Qur’an is wrapped in its cloth (Juzdaan) or has a napkin wrapped around it, then there is no problem touching it without bathing.xx If a verse of the Qur’an is prayed but the intention was not to pray as part of the Qur’an, then there is problem. For example, to say ‘Bismilla Hirrahma Nirraheem’ for auspiciousness, or to say ‘Alhamdu Lillahi Rabbil ‘Aalameen’ for thankfulness or to pray when in trouble or worried ‘Inna Lillahi Wa Inna Ilahi Raji’oon’ or for praise the Surah Fatiha was prayed or Aayatul Qursi was prayed or another verse was prayed, however, the intention was not to pray a verse of the Qur’an, then there is no problem.xxi
- • To see the Qur’an, whether the words are seen and then prayed in the heart is allowed in any situation.
- • To touch the Fiqh, Hadith or Tafseer books is dislike (Makrooh).
Those who are menstruating say that I cannot touch any book because I am unclean. Remember it is disliked and not forbidden, those who teach or have a habit of studying should continue to study as you may lose practise and your attention towards learning can be diverted. For details of Ghusl refer to Bahar-e-Shariah & Qanoon-e-Shariah3, (Rules of Islamic Law) and other books of Fiqh.
3 Encyclopedia of Hanafi Islamic law