Hadith>Articles>Ghusl The Ritual Bath

ترجمۂ کنزالایمان: اللہ کے نام سے شروع جو نہایت مہربان رحم والا

Translation: Allah in the name of the most Affectionate the Merciful

Du’a for Reading the Book or Islamic Lesson

Read the following Du’a (supplication) before studying a religious book or Islamic lesson , you will remember whatever you study.

Translation:Ya Allah! Open the portal of knowledge and wisdom for us, and have mercy on us! O the one who is the most honourable and glorious! (Al-Mustaraf, vol. 1, pp. 40)

Note: Recite Durud Sharif once before and after the Du’a.

ترجمۂ کنزالایمان:اور اگر جب وہ اپنی جانوں پر ظلم کریں تو اے محبوب تمہارے حضور حاضر ہوں اور پھر اللہ سے معافی چاہیں اور رسول ان کی شفاعت فرمائے تو ضرور اللہ کو بہت توبہ قبول کرنے والا مہربان پائیں۔

                                                                                                      

Translation of Kanzul Iman:And if when they do justice unto their souls, then O beloved! They should come to you and then beg forgiveness of Allah and the messenger should intercede for them then surely, they would find Allah Most Relenting, Merciful (4:64)

Excellence of Durud Shareef

The Noble Rasool صلی اللہ تعالی علیہ وسلم has stated, ‘Whoever recites Salat upon me one time, Allah عزوجل sends ten mercies upon him.’ (Sahih Muslim, pp. 166, vol. 1)

Ghusl The Ritual Bath in the light of Hadith

Hadith 1: It is in Sahih Bukhari and Muslim from Hazrat Sayyidah A’isha رضی اﷲ تعالیٰ عنہا that when the Prophet  صلی اﷲ تعالیٰ علیہ وسلم would take the bath of Janaabat, he would commence by first washing his hands. Thereafter he would perform ablution like for Namaaz. He would then dip his fingers into the water, wetting the roots of the hair. He would thereafter pour 3 handfuls of water thrice over the head and he then poured water over the entire body.

Hadith 2: It is reported in Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim from Ibn Ab’bas رضی اﷲ تعالیٰ عنھما that Ummul Momineen Hazrat Maymuna رضی اﷲ تعالیٰ عنہا says, ‘I kept out water for Nabi صلی اﷲ تعالیٰ علیہ وسلم  to take a bath and I used a fabric as a curtain. Huzoor صلی اﷲ تعالیٰ علیہ وسلم  poured water over his hands and washed them; again he صلی اﷲ تعالیٰ علیہ وسلم poured water over his hands and washed them. Then using his right hand, he  poured water over the left hand. He  صلی اﷲ تعالیٰ علیہ وسلم then washed the private parts. He صلی اﷲ تعالیٰ علیہ وسلم  then struck his hands on the earth and rubbed them and then washed them. He  صلی اﷲ تعالیٰ علیہ وسلم then rinsed his mouth and cleaned out his nose. He  صلی اﷲ تعالیٰ علیہ وسلم then washed his face and poured water on his head. He  صلی اﷲ تعالیٰ علیہ وسلم then move to one side and washed his sacred feet. I then handed him a towel (to dry himself with) but he صلی اﷲ تعالیٰ علیہ وسلم  did not use it.’

Hadith 3: It is reported in Bukhari and Muslim on the authority of Hazrat A’isha Siddiqa رضی اﷲ تعالیٰ عنہا that a woman from amongst the Ansar, enquired from Rasoolullah  صلی اﷲ تعالیٰ علیہ وسلم in regards to taking a bath (Ghusl) after menstruation. He  صلی اﷲ تعالیٰ علیہ وسلم explained to her how she should take the ritual bath. He then said that she should use a piece of fabricwhich is scented with musk to cleanse herself. She asked in regards to how she could purify herself with it. He  صلی اﷲ تعالیٰ علیہ وسلم said, ‘Purify yourself with it’. Again she asked as to how she could purify herself with it. He  صلی اﷲ تعالیٰ علیہ وسلم said, ‘Subhaan’Allah! Purify yourself with it’. Hazrat Sayyidah A’isha رضی اﷲ تعالیٰ عنہا says I pulled her towards me and said, ‘Remove any traces of blood with it.’

Hadith 4: Imam Muslim reported on the authority of Ummul Momineen Umm-e-Salma رضی اﷲ تعالیٰ عنہا wherein she says, ‘I said, Ya Rasool’Allah صلی اﷲ تعالیٰ علیہ وسلم  I tie the plait of my hair very tightly, so should I undo it when performing Ghusl of Janaabat?’, He  صلی اﷲ تعالیٰ علیہ وسلم said, ‘No, It is sufficient for you to pour water thrice over your head and then to pour water over yourself thrice, you will be cleansed.’ In other words, this is only if the roots of the hair become wet. If the hair is tied so tightly that the water does not reach the roots of the hair, then to untie it is Fard.

Hadith 5: Tirmizi, Ibn Majah and Abu Dawud report on the authority of Abu Hurairah رضی اﷲ تعالیٰ عنہ that Rasoolullah صلی اﷲ تعالیٰ علیہ وسلم  said, ‘Impurity lurks under every strand of hair, so (thoroughly) wash the hair and clean the skin.’

Hadith 6: Abu Dawud reports from Hazrat Ali رضی اﷲ تعالیٰ عنہ that Rasoolullah صلی اﷲ تعالیٰ علیہ وسلم  said, ‘That person who leaves the area equivalent to a single strand of hair unwashed; will have his hand dealt with in such and such manner by the fire (i.e. he will be punished).’ Hazrat Ali رضی اﷲ تعالیٰ عنہ says, ‘It is for this reason that I have formed an enmity with my hair.’ He repeated this thrice. (In other words, he shaved off all his hair, so that no area remains unwashed because of the hair).

Hadith 7: The Ashaab-e-Sunan Arba’a reported on the authority of Ummul Momineen A’isha Siddiqa رضی اﷲ تعالیٰ عنہا wherein she says, ‘Nabi  صلی اﷲ تعالیٰ علیہ وسلم did not perform Wudu after performing Ghusl.’

Hadith 8: Abu Dawud reported from Ya’la رضی اﷲ تعالیٰ عنہ that Rasoolullah  صلی اﷲ تعالیٰ علیہ وسلم once noticed a person taking bath in an open field. He  صلی اﷲ تعالیٰ علیہ وسلم then ascended the Mimbar (Holy Pulpit) and after Praising and Glorifying Allah, He  صلی اﷲ تعالیٰ علیہ وسلم  said, ‘Allah is Modest and Discreet. Modesty and Discretion is dear to him. When one of you takes a bath, one should cover one’s self.’

Hadith 9: It has been reported in numerous authentic books from numerous Sahaba-e-Kiraam رضی اﷲ تعالیٰ عنھم that Huzoor  صلی اﷲ تعالیٰ علیہ وسلم said, ‘One who believes in Allah and in the Last Day should not bathe in a public bath without wearing a waist-cloth and one who believes in Allah and the Last Day should not send his wife to a public bath.’

Hadith 10: Ummul Momineen A’isha Siddiqa رضی اﷲ تعالیٰ عنہا queried about females going to public baths and Huzoor صلی اﷲ تعالیٰ علیہ وسلم  said, ‘Going to the public bath is not good (i.e. safe) for females.’ She said, ‘They wear a waist-cloth whilst there.’ He  صلی اﷲ تعالیٰ علیہ وسلم said, ‘Even if she goes there wearing a waist-cloth, cloak (dress) and head stole.’

Hadith 11: It is in Sahih Bukhari and Muslim that Ummul Momineen Umm-e-Salma رضی اﷲ تعالیٰ عنہا ا says that Hazrat Umm-e-Sulaym رضی اﷲ تعالیٰ عنہا said, ‘Ya Rasool’Allah ! Allah is not shy of the truth. Does a woman have to perform Ghusl when she has ‘Ihtilaam’ (nocturnal emission, i.e. wet-dream)?’, He  said, ‘Yes, if she sees any discharge (semen).’ Hazrat Umm-e-Salma رضی اﷲ تعالیٰ عنہا hid her face (in bashfulness) and said, ‘Ya Rasool’Allah صلی اﷲ تعالیٰ علیہ وسلم ! Do women get Ihtilaam?’, He  صلی اﷲ تعالیٰ علیہ وسلم said, ‘Yes, if this is not so then how does the child resemble the mother.’

Note: The Ummuhaatul Momineen (Mothers of the Believers, i.e. The Sacred and Pure Wives of Rasoolullah صلی اﷲ تعالیٰ علیہ وسلم ) are protected from Ihtilaam even before they entered into Nikah with Rasoolullah  صلی اﷲ تعالیٰ علیہ وسلم. The reason for this is because Ihtilaam is caused by interference of shaitaan and the Sacred Wives of the Prophet  صلی اﷲ تعالیٰ علیہ وسلم are free and pure from such interferences of shaitaan. It is for this reason that they were astonished by this question of Umm-e-Sulaym.

Hadith 12: It is reported by Abu Dawud and Tirmizi from Hazrat A’isha رضی اﷲ تعالیٰ عنہا that Rasoolullah  صلی اﷲ تعالیٰ علیہ وسلم was asked whether a man should perform Ghusl if he notices some wetness but does not remember having Ihtilaam. He  صلی اﷲ تعالیٰ علیہ وسلم commanded that he should perform Ghusl. It was also asked in regards to a person who remembers having Ihtilaam but does not see any traces of wetness (semen). He  صلی اﷲ تعالیٰ علیہ وسلم decreed that there is no need for him to perform Ghusl. Umm-e-Sulaym asked that if a woman notices traces of wetness, does she have to perform Ghusl. He  صلی اﷲ تعالیٰ علیہ وسلم said, ‘Yes, females are similar to men (in this).’

Hadith 13: It is reported in Tirmizi from Hazrat A’isha رضی اﷲ تعالیٰ عنہا that Rasoolullah  صلی اﷲ تعالیٰ علیہ وسلم said, ‘When the head of a man’s private part enters into the private part (vagina) of a female, Ghusl becomes Waajib (compulsory).’

Hadith 14: It is reported in Sahih Bukhari and Muslim on the authority of Abdullah ibn Umar رضی اﷲ تعالیٰ عنھما that Hazrat Umar رضی اﷲ تعالیٰ عنہ mentioned to Rasoolullah  صلی اﷲ تعالیٰ علیہ وسلم that it sometimes became necessary for him to take the Ghusl at night. He  صلی اﷲ تعالیٰ علیہ وسلم said, ‘Perform Wudu, wash the private part (penis) and then go to sleep.’

Hadith 15: It is in Bukhari and Muslim from A’isha رضی اﷲ تعالیٰ عنہا that when the Prophet  صلی اﷲ تعالیٰ علیہ وسلم was in need of a bath and wished to eat or sleep, he would perform Wudu like is done for Namaaz.

Hadith 16: It is in Muslim from Abu Sa’eed Khudri رضی اﷲ تعالیٰ عنہ that Rasoolullah صلی اﷲ تعالیٰ علیہ وسلم  said, ‘If any of you is intimate with his wife and then wishes to go to her again, he should perform Wudu.’

Hadith 17: Tirmizi reports from Umar رضی اﷲ تعالیٰ عنہ that Rasoolullah صلی اﷲ تعالیٰ علیہ وسلم  said, ‘A menstruating female and one in the state of Janaabat should not recite anything from the Qur’an.’

Hadith 18: Abu Dawud reported from Sayyidah Ummul Momineen Siddiqa رضی اﷲ تعالیٰ عنہا ا that Rasoolullah صلی اﷲ تعالیٰ علیہ وسلم  said, ‘Turn the course of those homes away from the Musjid, for I do not declare it Halaal for a menstruating female and a person in an impure state to enter the Musjid.’

Hadith 19: Abu Dawud reported from Hazrat Ali رضی اﷲ تعالیٰ عنہ that Rasoolullah  صلی اﷲ تعالیٰ علیہ وسلم said, ‘The Angels (of Mercy) do not enter that home in which there are pictures (of living beings), dogs, and impure people.’

Hadith 20: Abu Dawud reported on the authority of Hazrat Am‘mar bin Yaasir رضی اﷲ تعالیٰ عنھما that Rasoolullah  صلی اﷲ تعالیٰ علیہ وسلم said, ‘The Angels do not go near 3 people; a deceased unbeliever; one who is immersed in Khulooq (saffron coloured fragrance); and a Junub (one in an impure state), unless he performs Wudu.’

Hadith 21: Imam Maalik reported that in the letter which Rasoolullah صلی اﷲ تعالیٰ علیہ وسلم  had written to Amr bin Hazm, it said, ‘The Qur’an should only be touched by a pure person.’

Hadith 22: Imam Bukhari and Imam Muslim reported from Ibn Umar رضی اﷲ تعالیٰ عنھما that Rasoolullah  صلی اﷲ تعالیٰ علیہ وسلم said, ‘One who comes for Jummah should take a bath (before coming).’

Ya Allah عزوجل of Mustafa  صلی اللہ تعالی علیہ وسلم! We make sincere Dua that  blesses us all with strength in Imaan and true love for the Holy Prophet  صلی اللہ تعالی علیہ وسلمand for all those who follow that which has been taught and commanded by Him. Amin! (Source: Extracted from Bahaar-e-Shariat Volume 2)

Courtesy: Imam Mustafa Raza Research Center

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