GHUSL (FULL BATH)

Bismillah ir-rahman ir-rahim

Assalam alaykum warhamatullah wabarakatu

In the previous article, it was about tahara and its definition, the state and in brief how to be clean in our daily lives. So what is ghusl? It refers to the full body washing required when an adult loses the state of cleanliness. It can be Waajib (obligatory) or it may be Sunnah and Mustahabb (Preferred). The scholars have described all the three cases.

The fuqaha are unanimously agreed that emission of manii (semen) is one of the things that make ghusl obligatory. The insertion of the head of the penis or a portion which is equivalent to the head into a woman’s vagina even if no ejaculation takes place, this the state of Jannabah. Secondly when one awakens to find a thin liquid or discharge (wetness) that is a likelihood that the wetness is madhi. Ibn Qudaamah said in al-Mughni, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) connected doing ghusl to seeing (the fluid) when he said: “If you see the water and if the water gushed out, then do ghusl.” The ruling does not apply otherwise. In women the same on discharge of manii (fluid emitted at the point of climax) with or without intercourse and after experiencing wet dreams needs to perform ghusl too, upon the stopping of menstruation and nifas (post-partum bleeding).

Cases in which ghusl is not required but it is mustahabb, one is every time one is going to meet people. Al-Baghawi said: it is mustahabb for the one who wants to meet people to do ghusl, clean himself and perfume himself. That includes doing ghusl during the two Eids. Al-Nawawi said in al-majmoo’ it is Sunnah for everyone according to consensus, me, women and children because it is part of adoring onself. The second case is when undergoing physical change, Al-Muhaamli who was a Shaafai faqeeh said: it is mustahabb to do ghusl every time one undergoes a physical change. For example, the fuqaha stated that it is mustahabb for one who went insane or fell unconscious to do ghusl when he recovers, and to do ghusl after cupping, after entering the hammam and so on because the ghusl will remove anything that has gotten onto the body and will restore it to a natural state. Thirdly, for some acts of worship such as doing ghusl when entering ihram. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) did ghusl before changing into his ihram garments and the fuqaha state it is mustahabb to do ghusl for tawaaf al-ziyaarah and twaaf al-wadaa (farewell tawaaf) and on Laylat al-Qadr. Other occasions when ghusl is required when a non-believer becomes a Muslim, after washing the deceased and also on Fridays it is Sunnah.

It was narrated by Aisha (RA), whenever the Prophet took a bath after Jannabah he started by washing his hands and then performed ablution like that for the prayer. After that he would put his fingers in water and move the roots of his hair with the, and then pour three handfuls of water over his head and then pour water all over his body. (Bukhari).

Another important aspect to remember is about the water to be used; it should be pure. Water has four essential attributes: smell, color, taste and fluidity. Any pure or purified water is judged according to whether it retains these attributes or not. As a result, water is classified into two categories: Mutlaq and Muqayyad. Mutlaq water is 'natural' such as rain water, melted snow, sea water, river water, spring water and water from Zamzam well. Muqayyad is water that includes naturally muqayyad water such as water mixed with various substances such as soap, saffron, flowers or other objects that Shari'ah considers pure. Such water is considered pure until, due to being mixed with other substances, one can no longer call it water. In this case, the water is still considered pure but it cannot be used for ghusl or ablution. Therefore pure water for performing ghusl should not have any smell, color or taste other than its natural state. If it has changed then it is not permissible to use for ghusl or wudhu.

Among other hadiths, the Sunnah for performing ghusl are nine:

1. To begin with; In the Name of Allah the Most Gracious, the Most Compassionate.
2. Make the intention.
3. Wash the hands up to and include the wrist (twice or thrice).
4. Using your left hand, wash the najis off your genitals and any other part of the body before commencing the bath.
5. Perform wudhu as one does for salah.
6. After wudhu, pour water over the head thrice.
7. Then over the right shoulder,
8. And again on the left shoulder.
9. Now pour water over the body and take a full bath and rub.
   
   
   Things to note:

• All parts of the body should be rubbed well enough and ensure every inch reaches water, no portion should be left dry.
• If a woman’s hair is plaited, she is excused from loosening her hair but it is compulsory for her to wet the base of each and every hair. If one fails to do so then ghusl is not valid. And if a woman finds it difficult for water to reach her roots while plaited then she should unplait and perform ghusl as required.
• Rings or earrings should be removed to ensure that portion covered by them is not left dry.
• Ensure the navel and the ears are wet as well.

If you ever find yourself in the state were ghusl is required do not delay it.

And Allah know best.