Question: Is there any difference between the ritual bath (ghusl al-janabah) of a man and that of a woman? Is it obligatory for a woman to untie the hair of her head for the ghusl? Or is it sufficient, on the basis of the hadith of the Prophet, to pour three handfuls of water? Also, what is the difference between the ghusl of janabah and the ghusl of hayd?
Answer: There is no difference between the ghusl of janabah of a man and that of a woman. And untying the hair is not obligatory for anyone for ghusl; rather, it is sufficient to pour three handfuls of water over the head and then wash the rest of the body. The evidence for this is that Umm Salamah (may Allah be pleased with her) asked the Prophet ﷺ:
إني امرأة أشد ضفر رأسى أفانقضه للحيض والجنابة؟ قال:لأ، انما يكفيك أن تحثى على رأسك ثلاث حثيات، ثم تفيضي عليك الماء فتطهري
“I am a woman who ties her head-hair tightly. Should I untie it for the ghusl of janabah?” He ﷺ said: “No. It is sufficient for you to pour water over your head three times, then you will be purified.”
If there is henna or something similar on the body of a woman or a man and it prevents water from reaching the body, then its removal is necessary. As for the ghusl of janabah of a woman, untying the hair in that case is a matter of difference of opinion. The correct position is that it is not obligatory for a woman to untie her hair. This is because some narrations state that Umm Salamah (may Allah be pleased with her) asked the Messenger of Allah ﷺ:
إني امرأة أشد ضفر رأسى أفانقضه للحيض والجنابة؟ قال:لأ، انما يكفيك أن تحثى على رأسك ثلاث حثيات، ثم تفيضي عليك الماء فتطهري
So this narration is explicit that untying the hair is not obligatory for a woman in the case of ghusl of hayd or ghusl of janabah; however, it is preferable for a woman to untie her hair for the ghusl of hayd. In this way, a harmonisation between the various pieces of evidence becomes possible, it is possible to avoid disagreement, and it also accords with the requirement of caution.
