Ghusl in Islam is to pour pure water over one’s body in a special way with the intention of worshipping Allah. And it is obligatory in some cases like semen discharge, converting to Islam, after menstruation.
Ghusl, or taking a bath
Definition:
Definition: The Arabic word ghusl means to take a bath to wash the whole of one’s body. In the Islamic context it means pouring pure water over the entire body in a particular way, with the intention of worshipping Allah by uplifiting the state of major ritual impurity.[1]
Ruling:
The ghusl is obligatory when there is a cause requiring it.
:Allah says
‘If you are in a state of ceremonial impurity, purify yourselves.’
(5:6)
A number of hadith reported by the Prophet’s (peace be upon him) Companions explaining how the ghusl should be performed clearly indicate that it is obligatory.
Taking a bath, i.e. performing the ghusl, is obligatory in the following cases:
1-The ejaculation of semen as per the ayah mentioned above.
:Ali said
‘If you ejaculate, then perform the ghusl.’
Related by Ahmad,hadith No. 868; Abu Dawud, hadith No. 206; al-Nassa’i, hadith No. 193
However, if the discharge is in a wet dream, it still requires a bath, even if the sleeper does not feel the orgasm. The Prophet (peace be upon him) was asked whether a woman must take a bath if she had a wet dream.
:The Prophet (peace be upon him) said
‘Yes, if she confirms a discharge .’
Related by Muslim, hadith No. 313
This is agreed by all scholars. It is important to note that the discharge of semen without an orgasm, as in the case of illness, does not require a ghusl, and the same is the case for one who sees a sexual dream but there is no trace of a discharge of semen. On the other hand, if on rising from sleep, one feels wetness but cannot remember a wet dream, one must perform the ghusl if one ascertains that the wetness is semen. Moreover, if one finds on one’s clothes traces of a discharge of semen but cannot ascertain its time, and he has already prayed once or more, he should perform the ghusl and repeat any prayer he offered since his last sleep.
2-The insertion of the top of the penis into a woman’s vagina, even if no discharge takes place.
:The Prophet (peace be upon him) said
‘If a man lies between her four limbs and the two private parts are in touch, the ghusl becomes obligatory .’
Related by Muslim, hadith No. 349
In this case, taking a bath is obligatory for both man and woman.
3- Embracing Islam by an unbeliever.
:The Prophet (peace be upon him) ordered Qays ibn 'Asim
‘to take a bath when he accepted Islam .’
Related by Abu Dawud, hadith No. 355; al-Tirmidhi, hadith No. 605; al-Nassa’i, hadith No. 188
This applies also to an apostate when he reverts to Islam.
4-When a woman finishes her menstrual period or postnatal bleeding. A’ishah reports that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said to Fatimah bint Abi Hubaysh:
‘When you start your period, do not pray, and when you finish it, perform the ghusl and pray .’
Related by al al-Bukhari, hadith No. 320; Muslim, hadith No. 333
It is universally agreed that postnatal bleeding is treated in the same way as menstruation.
5-Death. When Zaynab, the Prophet’s (peace be upon him) eldest daughter, died,
:the Prophet (peace be upon him) said to the women attending
‘Wash her .’
Related by al al-Bukhari, hadith No. 1,253; Muslim, hadith No. 939
He also said in reference to a man who died when he was in the state of consecration, i.e. ihram
‘Wash him with water and lotus leaves .’
Related by al al-Bukhari, hadith No. 1,265; Muslim, hadith No. 1,206
references
- Al-Bahuti, Kashshaf al-Qina', vol. 1, p. 158.