Description of how to do ghusl for major impurity and following menses

Abu Sarah

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Description of how to do ghusl for major impurity

There are two forms of ghusl:

Acceptable form: in the sense that if a person only does ghusl in this manner, his ghusl is valid and he becomes purified from major impurity. But if a person this kind of ghusl properly, his ghusl is not valid.

Complete and preferred form: this is the type which it is mustahabb to do but is not obligatory.

As for the obligatory and acceptable form it is as follows:

1. Form the intention to purify oneself from impurity: janaabah (impurity following sexual discharge), menses or nifaas (postpartum bleeding).

2. Wash the entire body with water once, making sure that the water reaches the roots of the hair and the places that it cannot reach easily, such as the armpits and backs of the knees, as well as rinsing the mouth and nose, according to the correct scholarly opinion.

Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (may Allaah have mercy on him) said in al-Sharh al-Mumti’ (1/423):

The evidence that this ghusl is valid is the words of Allaah (interpretation of the meaning): “If you are in a state of Janaaba (i.e. after a sexual discharge), purify yourselves (bathe your whole body)” [al-Maa’idah 5:6]. Allaah did not mention anything apart from that. If a person washes his entire body once, then it is true to say that he has purified himself. End quote.

As for the complete form, it is as follows

1. Form the intention in the heart to purify oneself from major impurity: janaabah (impurity following sexual discharge), menses or nifaas (postpartum bleeding).

2. Then say Bismillah and wash the hands three times, then wash any dirt from the private part.

Saying Bismillah when doing ghusl and wudoo’ is mustahabb according to the majority of fuqaha’, and the Hanbalis said that it is obligatory.

Shaykh ibn ‘Uthaymeen (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: Saying Bismillaah is obligatory according to our madhhab, as in the case of wudoo’. There is no text concerning that but they said: It is obligatory in the case of wudoo’ so it is more so in the case of ghusl, because that is a greater purification.

But the correct view is that it is not obligatory in the case of either wudoo’ or ghusl. End quote from al-Sharh al-Mumti’.

3. Then do wudoo’ as for prayer, a complete wudoo’.

(NB)

Rinsing the mouth and nose is essential in ghusl, as is the view of the Hanafis and Hanbalis.

Al-Nawawi said, discussing the difference of opinion on this point: the views of the scholars on rinsing the mouth and nose are four:

1- That these actions are two of the sunnahs of wudoo’ and ghusl. This is our view (Shaafa’i).

2- That they are obligatory in both wudoo’ and ghusl and are conditions of them being valid. This is the well known view of Ahmad.

3- That they are obligatory in ghusl but not in wudoo’. This is the view of Abu Haneefah and his companions.

4- That rinsing the nose, but not the mouth, is obligatory in wudoo’ and ghusl. This was narrated from Ahmad, and Ibn al-Mundhir said: This is my view.

End quote from al-Majmoo’ (1/400).

The correct view is the second one, which is that rinsing the mouth and nose is obligatory in ghusl, and that is a condition of it being valid.

Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: Among the scholars are some who say that ghusl is not valid without them (i.e., rinsing the mouth and nose), as is the case with wudoo’.

And it was said that it is valid without them.

The correct view is the former, because Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): “purify yourselves (bathe your whole body)” [al-Maa'idah 5:6],and this includes the entire body. The inside of the nose and mouth are part of the body which must be purified. Hence the Prophet
:saw:(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) enjoined that in wudoo’ because they are included in the words of Allaah (interpretation of the meaning): “wash your faces” [al-Maa’idah 5:6]. As they are included in washing the face and are included in that which must be purified in wudoo’, they are also included in ghusl, because purification in that case is even more important. End quote from al-Sharh al-Mumti’.



4. Then pour water over the head three times, and rub the hair so that the water reaches the roots of the hair.

5. Then wash the body, making sure that the water reaches all parts, starting with the right side of the body and then the left, and rubbing it with the hands so that the water reaches the entire body.

The evidence for this mustahabb form of ghusl is:

It was narrated that ‘Aa’ishah (may Allaah be pleased with her) said: When the Messenger of Allaah :saw: (blessings and peace of Allaah be upon him) did ghusl for janaabah, he would wash his hands and do wudoo’ as for prayer, then he would wash himself, then he would run his fingers through his hair, then when he thought that it [the water] had reached his skin, he would pour water over it [the head] three times, then he would wash the rest of his body.

Narrated by al-Bukhaari (248) and Muslim (316).

And it was narrated that she (may Allaah be pleased with her) said: When the Messenger of Allaah :saw: (blessings and peace of Allaah be upon him) did ghusl from janaabah, he would call for something like a vessel used for milking and take water in his palm. He started with the right side of his head, then the left, then he took water in both palms and poured it all over his head.

Narrated by al-Bukhaari (258) and Muslim (318).



One of the important rulings concerning this matter is that ghusl for major impurity takes the place of wudoo’, so the person who has done ghusl, whether the complete or the acceptable form, does not have to repeat wudoo', unless he does something that invalidates purity whilst doing ghusl.

ghusl following menses

There is no difference between ghusl in the case of janaabah and ghusl following menses except that it is more mustahabb to rub the hair in the case of ghusl following menses than in the case of ghusl following janaabah. It is also mustahabb for the woman to apply perfume to the site of bleeding, to remove any unpleasant smell.

Muslim (332) narrated from ‘Aa’ishah (may Allaah be pleased with her) that Asma’ asked the Prophet :saw: (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) about ghusl following menses. He said: “Let one of you take her water and lotus leaves and clean herself well, then let her pour water over her head and rub it vigorously so that it will reach the roots of her hair. Then let her pour the water over herself, then take a piece of cloth scented with musk and purify herself.” Asma’ said: How should she purify herself? He said: “Subhaan-Allaah! Purify yourself with it.” ‘Aa’ishah said – as if she whispered it to her – Follow the traces of blood. And she asked him about ghusl in the case of janaabah. He said: “Let her take water and clean herself well – or clean herself thoroughly – then let her pour water over her head and rub it so that it reaches the roots of the hair, then let her pour water over herself.” ‘Aa’ishah said: How good the woman of the Ansaar were! They did not let shyness prevent them from understanding their religion properly.

So the Prophet :saw: (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) differentiated between ghusl following menses and ghusl following janaabah, with regard to rubbing the hair and applying perfume.


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