Should a Woman Unbraid Her Hair when Bathing?

Hazrat Umm Salamah narrates that I asked, "O Messenger of Allah! I tie my braids tightly, should I undo them for ghusl?" The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) replied, "It is sufficient for you to pour water over your hair three times and then pour water over your entire body; you will become pure."

Hazrat Ubaid bin Umair narrates that Hazrat Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) was informed that Hazrat Abdullah bin Amr (may Allah be pleased with him) instructs women to undo their braids for ghusl (ritual bath). So Hazrat Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) said: "I am astonished at Ibn Amr! Why does he not instruct women to shave their heads? I and the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) used to perform ghusl from a single vessel, and I would not pour water on my head more than three times."

Ibrahim says that the bride will untie her braids to perform ghusl (ritual bath).

Once, a woman complained to Hazrat Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) about the ritual bath of impurity (ghusl janabat), so she said: Pour water over your head three times; what has gone, has gone, and what remains, remains.

A woman asked Umm Salama about the ritual bath (ghusl) after sexual impurity, so she said: Pour water over yourself three times. She said: My hair is thick. She replied: Arrange your hair over each other.

Hazrat Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them) says that for a woman with braids, pouring water three times is sufficient.

Hazrat Umm Salamah narrates that I asked the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him): I tightly braid my hair, so what should I do when performing ghusl (ritual bath)? The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, "Pour water over your head three times, then rub it well with your hands so that the water reaches the roots."

Hazrat Zuhri and Hazrat Ata say that a woman will not loosen her hair, rather she will pour water over it and then rub it.

Hasan says that pouring water over it three times is sufficient. If he wishes, he does not need to untie the knots.

Hazrat Shu’bah says that I asked Hammad about a woman’s ghusl (ritual bath), so he replied: If water can reach underneath, then she does not need to untie her braids, but if it cannot reach, then she should untie them. Hazrat Hakam said that she should wet the roots and edges of the braids; there is no need to untie them.

Hazrat Jabir narrates that a menstruating woman and a woman in a state of major ritual impurity will pour water over their heads without undoing their braids.

Hazrat Hudhaifah (may Allah be pleased with him) said to his wife: "Pass water through your hair thoroughly so that the fire may not reach the dry parts."

Hazrat Ata and Hazrat Zuhri state that the ritual bath (ghusl) for menstruation and for major ritual impurity (janabah) is the same.

Hazrat Nafi' narrates that the wives of Hazrat Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) and the mothers of his children (slave women who bore him children) did not undo their hair for the ritual bath of menstruation and janabah, but they would thoroughly wet it.

Hazrat Ikrimah was asked about a woman who wishes to perform ghusl after menstruation or janabah. He said: She should loosen her braids and pour water so that it reaches the roots, there is no need to untie them.

Hazrat Abdullah says that a woman will comb through her hair with her fingers; the same is narrated from Hazrat Ata as well.