Q & A - Rulings of Ghusl

Question

What are the rulings of ghusl(bath)? When does it become compulsory to have ghusl and how should one perform it?

Answer

Answer by Shaykh Salim Ghisa

Under Islamic Shariah law bathing has three obligations (Fardh) and there are 5 reasons according to the Hanafi Madhab (school of thought) that make it obligatory.

The following three obligations have to be met when bathing otherwise their bathing will not count.

  1. Gargle - To clean the inside of the mouth up to the throat, ensuring that water accesses all parts and that it releases anything struck between the teeth etc. If a person is fasting then they must not gargle to the back of the throat but they still have to wash the mouth. If they are not fasting then they must gargle.
  2. To clean the inside of the nose so that all the hair inside the nostrils becomes wet. Suck up the water from your right hand and use the index finger and thumb of the left to clean the nostrils ensuring any dried mucus is cleaned out up to the bone of the nose.
  3. Wash all of the body ensuring that not a single hair or hair-point remains dry. Making sure that all hair on the head is washed and that any area which is usually covered is washed, such as skin under the earrings, nose studs, rings etc. If a single hair of the body remains dry then the bathing will not count.

The method of bathing is as follows:

(a) Perform the intention of bathing (Ghusl). Then, first of all, wash the hands up to the wrists three times.

(b) Wash the private parts, whether there is any impurity stuck on them or not.

(c) Wash any part of the body which has impurity stuck on it.

(d) Perform Wudhu as performed in Salaah but do not wash the feet. However, if you are sat on a stool or a stone etc. then wash the feet also.

(e) Rub water into the body as you would rub oil.

(f) Wash the right hand shoulder three times.

(g) Wash the left hand shoulder three times.

(h) Wash the head and all of the body three times.

(i) Move away from the place of bathing and if you did not wash the feet when performing Wudhu, wash them now.

Important Points to Remember

Do not face the Qibla when bathing.

Ensure that you rub your hands with water all over the body whilst scrubbing.

Do not bathe where someone can see you. If this is not possible then it is necessary for you to cover the body from the navel to the knees (for men). If this is not possible then perform Tayammum (dry ablution).

Do not talk when bathing or say any prayers.

To bath naked in a careful hidden place (where no one can see) is allowed. It is very important that women are very careful of this.

The aspects of Sunnah and Mustahhab in Wudhu also apply in bathing, except if you are bathing naked then do not face Qibla and if you are wearing a cloth then there is no problem.

When do I HAVE to do ghusl?

There are five actions that make it obligatory for a person to have a bath (ghusl). As a result you CANNOT do any form of worship, touch the Quran or even enter the mosque until you perform ghusl. The five actions are as follows

  1. The ejaculation of sperm from it’s place with lust.
  2. To have a wet dream. Meaning nocturnal emission that is the releasing of sperm whilst sleeping.
  3. Sexual intercourse whether it is 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.

If sperm was ejaculated from it’s 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 Wudhu is broken.

If semen dropped but was very thin and it came out whilst urinating or on it’s own accord without lust then the bath does not become necessary but the Wudhu will break.

To bathe on Fridays, Eid days, on the day of Arafah (9th Dhul Hajj) or when wearing the Ehraam is Sunnat.

Of course Allah knows best