Source: Ahkam wa Masail, Chapter on Ghusl, Vol. 1, p. 94
Question:
Is the ghusl (ritual bath) performed after accepting Islam obligatory? From what I know, it is indeed obligatory.
Answer:
Alḥamdulillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu was-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, ʿammā baʿd:
Yes, performing ghusl at the time of accepting Islam is obligatory.
Evidence from the Prophetic Hadith:
Qays bin ʿĀṣim (RA) narrates:
عَنْ قَیْسِ بْنِ عَاصِمٍ قَالَ أَتَیْتُ النَّبِیَّ ﷺ أُرِیْدُ الْإِسْلاَمَ فَأَمَرَنِيْ أَنْ أَغْتَسِلَ بِمَائٍ وَسِدْرٍ
“Qays bin ʿĀṣim said: I came to the Prophet ﷺ to accept Islam, and he commanded me to perform ghusl with water and lotus (sidr) leaves.”
(Sunan Abu Dawud – Book of Purification, Chapter: A man who accepts Islam and is instructed to perform ghusl)
Conclusion:
Therefore, performing ghusl after accepting Islam is wājib (obligatory), because the Prophet ﷺ gave a direct command to a new Muslim to do so.
ھٰذا ما عندي، والله أعلم بالصواب
