Ghusl (Bath) in Islam, and some info about it

Certainly, holiness is a part of Iman (faith). Allah Ta’ala and His Messenger (peace be upon him) love holiness. But the Devil (Satan) does not like it. He wants everyone to be unclean physically and mentally. Verily, Major impurity keeps people away from many acts of worship. So Allah has determined for the believers a way to purify themselves from the major impurity. That way is Ghusl (Bath). There is much significance of Ghusl (Bath) in Islam. It is one of the rulings of Islam for Muslims. It becomes obligatory when certain reasons are revealed. And one of those reasons is revealed in one whom, immediately falls into major impurity.

So I will mention some of the most important matters about Ghusl (Bath) that every Muslim must know. At the same time, I will describe to you its need and importance. So let’s first know what Ghusl (Bath) in Islam is.

What is Ghusl (Bath) in Islam?

In this regard, Imam Khatib Al Shirbini (Rh) has mentioned in his book,

“Its literal meaning is To pour water on something generally. And its terminological meaning is To pour water on the whole body with the intention (of purification).” [Mughni Al-Muhtaj, volume 1, page 212]

Explaining this further, Imam Mansur ibn Yunus ibn Idris al-Bahuti (Rh) said,

Ghusl (Bath) is To use purified and sanctifier water in the whole body in a specific way. So the condition of using water excludes Al-Tayammum, the condition of purified and sanctifier water excludes the non-sanctifier water, the condition of the whole body excludes Al-Wudu, and the condition of in a specific way includes the intention, saying Bismillah. [Kashshaf Al-qina an matn Al-iqna, volume 1, page 139]

Basically, Ghusl (Bath) in Islam is to flow the purified water all over the body and to observe properly obligatory matters of it.

Allah Ta’ala says about Ghusl (Bath): “O you who have believed, do not approach prayer while you are intoxicated until you know what you are saying, not (approach prayer) in a state of janabah (one kind of major impurity) except those passing through (the mosque), until you have bathed.” [Surah An-Nisa, verse 43]

Ghusl’s importance and necessity

Ghusl (Bath) is one of the commandments of Allah. However, its importance also changes in terms of different conditions. Sometimes it becomes obligatory, sometimes sunnah, and sometimes Mustahabb, and so on. If Ghusl (Bath) becomes obligatory on someone and he neglects to do Ghusl, then it is considered a disliked deed for him. And if he deliberately delays doing Ghusl, even if he misses any obligatory worship intentionally due to it, then it will be considered a sin for him to delay doing it. And When the companions of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) fall into major impurity, they would take a quick bath to purify themselves.

In this regard,

Narrated Abu Huraira (RA), The Prophet (peace be upon him) came across me in one of the streets of Medina and at that time I was Junub (i.e., in a major impurity state). So I slipped away from him and went to take a bath. On my return, the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “O Abu Huraira! Where have you been?” I replied, “I was Junub, so I disliked sitting in your company.” The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “Subhan Allah! A believer never becomes impure (like stool-urine, or A believer stay not always in an impurity state).” [Sahih Bukhari, Hadith No. 283]

The believer stays always in a clean state. Those who are the devil or his companions do not want to be pure. They do delay being holy. And they give up many acts of worship of Allah due to impurity. For many, it becomes a bad habit. At one time, they fell into the wrath of Allah because they like to be always in an unclean state. But Allah wants to keep his servants pure. So He has given them the ruling of holiness. And Allah Ta’ala said:

“He (Allah) sent down upon you from the sky, water (rain) by which he purifies you and removes from you the evil (suggestions) of Satan and makes steadfast your hearts and makes (your) steps firm thereby.” [Surah Al-Anfal, verse 11]

Obligatory matters of Ghusl

(1) Intention (Niyyah). Narrated ‘Umar bin Al-Khattab (R.): I heard Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) saying, “The reward of deeds depends upon the intentions and every person will get the reward according to what he has intended. So whoever emigrated for worldly benefits or for a woman to marry, his emigration was for what he emigrated for.” [Sahih Bukhari, Hadith No. 1]

However, some scholars have said that Niyyah (intention) is a Sunnah during Bathing (Ghusl).

(2) Rinsing mouth and nose. Aishah (R) narrated that when the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) performed Ghusl from Janabah, the vessel (of water) would be placed before him, and he would pour water over his hands before putting his two hands into the vessel. When he had washed his hands, he would put his right hand in the vessel, then pour water with his right hand and wash his private parts with his left hand. When he had finished it, he would pour water with his right hand over his left hand and wash them both. Then he would rinse his mouth and nose three times. Thereafter he would pour water filling both of his hands over his head three times. Then he would pour water over his body. [Sunan an-Nasa’i, Hadith No. 245]

(3) Washing the whole body. Aishah said (R), “Whenever Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) took the bath of Janabah, he cleaned his hands and performed ablution like that for Salah and then took a bath and rubbed his hair, till he felt that the whole skin of the head had become wet, then he would pour water thrice and wash the rest of the body.” [Sahih Bukhari, Hadith No 272]

How to perform Ghusl (Bath) in Islam?

Ghusl (bath) should be done in the manner that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) is doing. And should be Ghusl (bath) behind the curtain. Because Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) used to like to bathe behind the curtain. And there is no danger of the private part being exposed in front of people if you perform ghusl behind the curtain. Regarding how the Prophet (peace be upon him) used to bathe, Maimunah (RA) said:

“I placed water for the bath of the Prophet (peace be upon him). He washed his hands twice or thrice and then poured water on his left hand and washed his private parts. He rubbed his hands over the earth (and cleaned them), rinsed his mouth, washed his nose by putting water in it and blowing it out, washed his face and both forearms, and then poured water over his body. Then he withdrew from that place and washed his feet.” [Sahih Bukhari, Hadith No. 257]

And the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: “Cover your Awrah (the private part), except for your wife and those whom your right hand possesses (i.e., Halal slave woman).” I (Mu’awiyah bin Haidah Al-Qushairy) said: ‘O Messenger of Allah, what if the people live close together?’ He (peace be upon him) said: “If you can make sure that no one sees it, then do not let anyone see it.” I said: ‘O Messenger of Allah, what if one of us is alone?’ He (peace be upon him) said: “Allah is more deserving that you should feel shy before Him than People.” [Sunan Ibn Majah, Hadith No. 1920]

What are the types of Ghusl (Bath) in Islam?

There are two types of Ghusl (Bath) in Islam. Namely: 1, Obligatory bath. 2, Mustahab or Sunnah bath.
The Obligatory bath is a bath that obligates if one of the certain reasons for the obligatory bath is revealed to someone.

And Mustahab or Sunnah bath is a bath that has to be done on certain days or at certain times. For example, bathing on Friday, bathing on Eid day, bathing after giving a bath to a dead person, etc.

If a person misses any obligatory worship due to abandoning the obligatory bath, then he will be a sinner. On the contrary, if a person abandons Mustahab or Sunnah bath, then he will not be a sinner. But he will be deprived of the reward. Therefore, every believer should follow the pattern of Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) in bathing and all other matters of religion. In this regard, Allah Ta’ala said:

“There has certainly been for you in the Messenger of Allah an excellent pattern for anyone whose hope is in Allah and the Last Day and (who) remembers Allah often.” [Surah Al-Ahzab, verse 21]

The certain reasons that make the bath obligatory

(1) Ejaculating semen with arousal. It was narrated that Ali (R) said: I was one who had a lot of Madhi, and the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said to me, “If you see Madhi (prostatic fluid) then wash your penis, and perform Wudu’ like that for Salah, but if you ejaculate semen, then perform Ghusl.” [Sunan an-Nasa’i, Hadith No. 194]

(2) Joining the two circumcised parts together. Abu Hurairah (R) reported the Prophet (peace be upon him) as saying, “When anyone sits between the four parts of a woman (i.e., who wants to do sexual cohabit with his wife), and one circumcised join other circumcised, then bath becomes obligatory.” [Sunan Abi Dawud, Hadith No 216]

(3) To be end Menses and Nifas (Blood of Childbirth).

Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) said: “When the time of menstruation comes, stop praying (Salah), and when it goes, perform Ghusl.” [Sunan an-Nasa’i, Hadith No. 202]

And when the Blood of Childbirth stops, it is obligatory to take a bath. All the Fuqaha (those who are Islamic jurists, are experts in fiqh, or Islamic jurisprudence and Islamic Law) have agreed on this. In this regard, in the famous reliable book of Fiqh, Al-Mausu’ah Al Fiqhiyyah has been mentioned that,

The Fuqaha have expressed the opinion that it is obligatory for a woman to take a bath after the blood of Childbirth has stopped. Al-Ijma (i.e., the unanimous agreement of the Islamic jurists of a particular era on a specific issue) is the proof that makes bathing obligatory due to it. Because there is no clear statement in the Qur’an or Sunnah (Hadith) regarding the obligation of bathing it. [Al-Mausu’ah Al Fiqhiyyah Al Kuwaitiyah, volume 41, page 15]

(4) Death. Narrated Umm Atiyya al-Ansariya (R): Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) came to us when his daughter died and said, “Take her to bath thrice or five times or more, if you see it necessary, with water and Sidr and then apply camphor or some camphor at the end.” [Sahih Bukhari, Hadith No 1253]

(5) When the disbeliever accepts Islam

Narrated Abu Hurairah (R): “When Thumama bin Uthal (RA) had accepted Islam, then Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) commanded him to take a shower.” [Irwa al-Ghalil lil Albani, Page no 164]

(6) To find wetness on the body or clothes after waking up from sleep. Aishah (R) narrated: The Prophet (peace be upon him) was asked about a man who finds wetness, and he does not remember having a wet dream. So He (peace be upon him) said (about that person): he is to perform Bathing (Ghusl). And (He ﷺ was asked) about a man who had a wet dream, but does not find any wetness. So He (peace be upon him) said (about this person): No Ghusl is required of him. Umm Salamah (R) said: ‘O Messenger of Allah! Is the woman required to perform Bathing (Ghusl) if she sees that?’ He (peace be upon him) replied: ‘Yes. Indeed women are the partners of men. [Jami at-Tirmidhi, Hadith No. 113]

If the bath has obligated, then which activities are prohibited?

1. Performing any prayer (Salah) and 2. Entering the Mosque and Staying in there. Allah Ta’ala said in this regard, “O you who have believed, do not approach prayer while you are intoxicated until you know what you are saying, not (approach prayer) in a state of janabah except those passing through (the mosque), until you have bathed.” [Surah An-Nisa, verse 43]  

3. Performing the circumambulation (Tawaf). Ibn Abbas (R) narrated that, the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “Tawaf around the House (of Allah) is similar to Salah, But you can talk during it. So whoever talks in it, then let him not talk except good.” [Jami at-Tirmidhi, Hadith No. 960]

4. Touching the Quran.

Abu Bakr bin Muhammad narrates from his father, he narrates from his grandfather that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) wrote a letter to the people of Yemen. It said, “No one should touch the Qur’an except the holy one.” [Nail al-Awtar, Hadith No 262]

5. Reciting the Quran. It was narrated that Abdullah bin Salimah said, Me and two other men came to Ali (R), and he said, “The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) used to come out of the toilet and recite Qur’an, and he would eat meat with us. And nothing would prevent him from (reciting) Quran except Janabah.” [Sunan an-Nasa’i, Hadith No. 267]

Our Dua to Allah Ta’ala

May Allah Ta’ala grant us the grace to always be pure and to stay away from impurity. May Allah forgive us all the mistakes and sins in life, and grant us Tawfiq to follow all time the Sunnah of Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him). Ameen.