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Ghusl as a Term
'Ghusl' means washing of the whole
body generally, but as a term of the Fiqh, it implies purifying oneself
in the prescribed way or performing total ablution as a religious duty.
General Instructions About Ghusl
One should cover one's nakedness somehow (by wearing shorts,
underwear, etc.) while having Ghusl in the bathroom or in the open.
As far as possible, one should avoid having Ghusl
without covering one's private parts in the open so that one's nakedness is
not seen by other person; if there is nothing to cover the nakedness, one
should draw a circle and have Ghusl inside it starting with "Bishmillah".
The woman should invariably have her Ghusl in the
sitting posture; the man may have it sitting, but if he has covered his
private parts, there is no harm if he washes himself standing.
One should avoid talking during Ghusl, unless it is
extremely necessary and unavoidable.
One should avoid facing Qiblah when having Ghusl
in the naked state.
One should have Ghusl on a clean spot and should
avoid urinating there.
Things disapproved during Wudu are disapproved during
Ghusl as well. One is not allowed to recite the supplications of Wudu
during Ghusl.
Ghusl: The Prescribed Way
Taking water in the right hand, one should
first wash both the hands up to the wrists, and then the private parts (both
anal and genital) even if they are not clean; then one should wash down any
impurity from the body; then perform full Wudu in the prescribed way. In
case of obligatory Ghusl, one should recite nothing except Bismillah
in Wudu. After Wudu, one should pour water over the head, then on
the right shoulder and then on the left. The one should rub and wash the whole
body clean with soap or without it, so that no part remains dry anywhere on the
body. One should run water twice again in the same way and wash the body
thoroughly. At the end, one should wash the feet if they were not washed before Wudu,
and then use the towel.
Fard Parts in Ghusl
To put water into mouth so that it reaches the throat.
To sniff water into the nose.
To run water over the whole body so that no part of the skin
remains dry.
If any of these is missed or neglected, Ghusl
will not be deemed to have been performed.
Plaited Hair and Ornaments
If water can reach the roots of the hair, a woman may not
un-twist her plait; but if the hair is thick and the plait is tightly done;
it is necessary to un-twist it.
If the hair is loose and un-plaited, it is necessary to wash
it thoroughly so that water reaches the roots and not a single hair remains
dry.
If a man is keeping long hair and has plaited it, he is
required to wash the whole hair up to the roots.
In case one is wearing a tight ring or a necklace or
ear-rings, etc., one has to move it to and fro so that water reaches every
part of the skin.
Sunnat Parts in Ghusl
A person would be following the Sunnah
if he performs Ghusl with special attention to the following:
To have the intention of obtaining purity with a view to
pleasing Allah.
To perform Ghusl in the precribed way.
To begin with Wudu and wash the hands up to the
wrists.
To remove every impurity from the body and wash it well.
To run water thrice over the body.
Mustahabb Parts in Ghusl
To have a bath in a private place, and to cover one's
private parts if one wishes to have bath while standing.
To wash the right side first and the left side.
To use neither too much water resulting in its wastage, nor
so little that the body doesn't become thoroughly wet.
To have Ghusl in the sitting posture.
Injunctions Concerning Ghusl
Ghusl is performed for three purposes:
To obtain purity after the sexual intercourse, etc. Ghusl
in this case is imperative (Fard).
To please Allah and deserve His approval. This is Sunnat
and highly commendable.
To clean the body of dirt and dust or to seek relief from
the heat of summer. This is Mubah (permissible).
When is Ghusl Imperative?
It is imperative to perform Ghusl in
event of the following:
Seminal discharge.
Penetration of the glands of the penis in to the vagina.
Menstrual discharge.
Bleeding on account of Nifas.
First Case
If seminal discharge takes place in the
lustful state from the genitals, Ghusl becomes imperative. This may
happen during sleep or through copulation between man and woman, or with an
animal, or through sex stimulation in any way, or through masturbation, etc.
(These different cases of seminal discharge have been described to give details
of the injunction regarding Ghusl, otherwise causing seminal emission in
other than marital case is both foolish and sinful)
If a person discharges semen after he has and Ghusl
to purify himself after seminal emission, due to any reason, he will have to
have a fresh Ghusl.
If no sign is found on the garment after waking up from
sleep of the seminal emission even though a person dreamed that he had the
night emission and pleasurable experience, he may not have Ghusl.
If a person finds the garment wet due to seminal emission
after sleep, he will have to have Ghusl even if he cannot recall the
night emission.
If a person has the pleasurable sex experience during sleep,
he must have Ghusl, even though he is certain that the wetness on the
garment is due to prostatic fluid and not the night emission.
Ghusl becomes imperative even if the semen after
discharge remains stuck up in the foreskin covering the tip of the penis, in
case it has not been removed in circumcision.
If a person has experienced orgasm, but he presses the organ
and prevents the emission of semen, which flows out after the lustful state
is over, he must have Ghusl.
Second Case
If the glands of the penis penetrates the
body of another living person, whether male or female or eunuch, in the anal or
genital part, with or without seminal emission, Ghusl becomes imperative.
If both the active and the passive partners in the unnatural act are adult, Ghusl
will be imperative for both, otherwise for the adult only (One should bear in
mind that Islam forbids the males to insert the organ into any part of anybody
except in the genital part of the wife).
A Few Explanations
If a male inserts his organ into the body of minor girl and
there is no chance of rupture of the genitals or anal part taking place, it
will be imperative for the male to have Ghusl.
If a woman in fit of sexual excitement, inserts the organ of
man or an animal in the lust less state, or a piece of wood, into her
vagina, she will have to take Ghusl even if she does not experience
orgasm.
If the organ of a castrated male penetrates the body of a
male or a female, Ghusl will be imperative for both if they are
adults, otherwise for the adult one only.
Ghusl will be imperative even if the organ is
inserted sheathed in a cloth or skin.
If the glands of the penis has been cut off, penetration of
an equal part of the rest of the organ, will make Ghusl imperative.
Third Case
The minimum period of the menstrual discharge
is three days and three nights, and the maximum ten days and ten nights, the
minimum period of purity in between 15 days. Therefore, if the duration of the
discharge is less than three days and three nights, Ghusl will not be
imperative; now if there occurs another discharge before the minimum period of
purity has been completed, it will not be regarded as menstrual, and therefore, Ghusl
will not be necessary after it.
Fourth Case
Ghusl also becomes imperative at the
cassation of the bleeding that goes with childbirth (Nifas), which occurs
after more than half the baby has been delivered, and continues for 40 days in
normal case, The bleeding occuring before that stage and continued beyond the
maximum period of 40 days, is not regarded as Nifas, and, therefore, Ghusl
on that account in not necessary. If, however, there is no bleeding whatsoever
after childbirth, Ghusl will not be imperative though it is preferable to
have it.
Cases in which Ghusl is not Imperative
Emission of prostatic fluid (with or without lust) or
bleeding on account of Istihadah.
Penetration of less than the glands of the penis.
Insertion of the male semen into the vagina without
copulation, in an artificial way.
Insertion of the male organ into the navel of the other
person.
Copulation with a virgin provided that her hymen remains
intact.
Having an enema, etc.
Seminal emission, without lust, on account of a fall, or
shock, or after urination, etc.
Occasion on which Ghusl is Sunnat
On Friday before the congregational Prayer.
On Eid day before the congregational Prayer.
Before putting on Ihram for performing Hajj or
Ummrah.
On the day of Arafah (during Hajj) after the
sun has declined.
Occasions on which Ghusl is Mustahabb
One one's Embracing Islam.
After washing a dead body.
On one's regaining senses after a fit of lunacy,
intoxication, etc.
On the 15th night of Shaban.
On entering the Holy precincts of Makkah and Madinah.
Before observing the solar or lunar eclipse Prayers, or the
Prayer for rain, etc.
On the morning of the 10th of Zil-Hijjah after the Fajr
Prayer for the stay at Muzdalifah.
After casting pebbles at Jamarat during Hajj.
On repenting of one's sins.
For the purposes of attending a party or function or putting
on a new dress.
On coming back home from a journey.
Occasions on which Ghusl is Mubah (Permissible)
Besides the occasions mentioned above, if a
person feels like having a bath for any other purpose, he may do so, but this
will have no religious bearing or value. A few instances are:
After sweeping the shop or house.
For the purpose of removing dust, mud, etc., for the body.
For cleaning the body of dirt due to sweat, etc.
For the sake of relief from the heat of summer.
For refreshing the body after labor and fatigue, etc.
Miscellaneous Regulations
If a person needs to have Ghusl (after sexual
intercourse, etc.) and plunges into a canal or stream, or stands in the
rain, so that his whole body becomes thoroughly wet with water, and he puts
water into the mouth and nose as well, he will be deemed to have performed Ghusl
and obtained purity.
If a person does not perform Wudu before Ghusl,
but has had proper Ghusl in the prescribed way, he may not perform Wudu
later, because all the essential parts to be washed in Wudu have
already been washed during Ghusl.
If a person does not put water into the mouth before Ghusl,
but has drink enough of water, the condition of Ghusl will be deemed
to have been fulfilled.
If a person has applied oil to his hair, or massaged his
body with it, and water seems to be slipping off the oily body, during Ghusl,
he will be deemed to have Ghusl and achieved purity.
If a person has applied polish or paint to the nails, etc.,
it is necessary to remove it before performing Ghusl, so that water
reaches every part of the skin.
If on account of a disease, pouring of water over the head
is deemed to be harmful, one may was the rest of the body for the purpose of
Ghusl, and wash the head later when there is no such risk.
Injunctions Concerning Major Impurity (Hadath Akbar)
In the state of Hadath Akbar, which is a
state of impurity due to sexual intercourse, menses, etc., one is forbidde:
To move round the Kabah.
To recite the Quran, even if it be a singel verse.
To handle and touch the Quran; one may, however, handle the
Quran under the conditions mentioned in connection with Hadath Asghar.
To offer prayers, perform Sajdah Tilawat,
etc., as also forbidden in the state of Hadath Asghar.
To observe a fast during the menses and Nifas.
To observe Fast during menses and Nifas.
To have sexual intercourse with a wife during the menses and
Nifas. One may, however, embrace and caress her and express one's
love for her, and eat and drink with her.
One is, however, allowed to to the Eid ground or attend
lessons at a religious institution, in the state of Hadath Akbar.
One may also recite from memory those verses of the Quran
which contain the glorification of Allah of supplications to Him, e.g.
Allah la ilaha illa huwa-al Hayyul-Qayyum la ta' khuzu-hu sinatun wa la
naum; Laha ma fissamawat-iwama fil ard.
Rabbana ati-na fid-dunya hasanatan wa fil-akhirati hasanatan-wa-qina 'azab-an-nar.
One may also recite Surah Al-Fatihah and the Qunut
with the intention of invoking Allah's help and mercy.
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