Lesson 14: Ritual Bath )Ghusl(

A ritual bath (Ghusl) is the act of washing the whole body with the intention of proximity to Allāh.

Obligatory Ritual Bathing (Ghusls)

There are seven obligatory Ghusls:

1. The Ghusl for ritual impurity (Janābat);
2. The Ghusl for irregular blood discharge (Istiḥāḍah);
3. The Ghusl for menstruation (Ḥayḍ);
4. The Ghusl for lochia (Nifās);
5. The Ghusl for touching a dead body (mass al-mayyit);
6. The Ghusl for a dead body (mayyit);
7. A Ghusl that becomes obligatory due to a vow (Nadhr), oath (Qasam), or suchlike.

1. Janābat (Ritual Impurity)

One- Causes of Janābat

1. A person becomes junub[1] in two ways:
2. a) Sexual intercourse;
3. b) Ejaculation of semen through masturbation or sleep (Issue 389).
4. Ejaculation conditions for semen:
5. a) It has discharged with lust;
6. b) It has come out with a gush;
7. c) It is accompanied by weakness in the body

(Issue 290).

Two- Things That Are Unlawful for a Junub

1. Touching the text of the Holy Qurān or the name of

Allāh in any language, with any part of the body, and it is better not to touch the names of the prophets (SA), the Imāms (AS), and her holiness Fatima Zahra (AS);

2. Entering Masjid al-Ḥarām and Masjid al-Nabawi (Mosque of the Prophet) (ṢA);
3. Staying in other mosques and shrines of the Holy Imāms (AS) as an obligatory precaution;
4. Entering a mosque, taking something from it, or placing something in a mosque;
5. Reciting any of the obligatory Sajdah verses in the Holy Qurān. These verses are found in four chapters (Sūrahs) of the Qurān:
6. Sūrah Ha Mim al-Sajdah (حم السجدة) (Chapter 32), verse 15;
7. Sūrah Fuṣṣilat (فصلت) (Chapter 41), verse 37;
8. Sūrah al-Najm (والنجم) (Chapter 53), verse 62;
9. Sūrah al-ʿAlaq (العلق) (Chapter 96), verse 19 (Issue 299).

Three: Laws Regarding Ghusl of Janābat

1. The Ghusl of Janābat by itself is recommended, but it is obligatory for obligatory prayers. However, it is not necessary for the prayer for the dead (Tawāf al-mayyit), sajdatā al-sahw, the prostration for thanksgiving (Sajdah for Shukr), and the obligatory prostrations of the Qurān (Issue 401).
2. If a person is required to perform several Ghusls, he must perform one Ghusl with the intention of all of them (Issue 433).
3. The person who has performed the Ghusl of Janābat should not perform Wuḍūʾ for prayers.

Four: The Conditions of the Water and Place for the Ghusl

1. Water must be unmixed (Mutlaq water);
2. The body must be pure during Ghusl;
3. Water must be pure;
4. Water and place where Ghusl is performed must be permissible (Mubah) (Issue 416 & 424).

Five: The Obligatory Acts of Ghusl

1. Intentions of proximity to Allāh;
2. Washing the head and neck;
3. Washing the right side of the body;
4. Washing the left side of the body;
5. Ghusl must be performed consecutively (Mawalat);
6. Removing anything that prevents water from reaching the body (Issue 405 & 421).

Six: Types and Laws of Ghusl

There are two ways to perform Ghusl, whether it is obligatory or recommended (Issue 404)

1. Sequential Ghusl (Tartībī)

In sequential Ghusl (Tartībī), the body parts must be washed sequentially with the intention of Ghusl.

1. Washing the head and neck;
2. Washing the right side of the body;
3. Washing the left side of the body (Issue 405).
4. Immersion Ghusl (Irtimāsī)

When making the intention, the whole body must be immersed in water at once (Issue 411).

Note: Sequential Ghusl does not require the purification of the entire body before performing Ghusl. Purifying each body part before performing a Ghusl on it is sufficient. In immersion Ghusl, however, the body must be pure before bathing as an obligatory precaution (Issue 416).

3. jabīrah Ghusl

A jabīrah Ghusl is performed in the same way as a

jabīrah Wuḍūʾ (Issue 383).

Question:

When clothes are stained with sweat after Janābat, are they impure or pure? Is it possible to pray with that cloth after the Ghusl Janābat?

Answer:

The sweat of the Janābat is pure; there is no problem if the impurity does not spread during the prayer.

Exercises:

1. What are the types of Ghusl?
2. What are the causes of Janābat?
3. 3. What things are unlawful for Junub?
4. 4. What is the method of performing the Ghusl?

[1]. Junub is the term used to refer to a person who is in the state of janābah.