Rulings Regarding Ghusl al-Janabah in the Light of Authentic Ahadith
Compiled by: Muhammad Nadeem Zaheer
Obligatory Acts of Ghusl al-Janabah
❶ Cleansing the body from impurities
Evidence: Sunan al-Nasa’i, Hadith No. 419
Authenticity: Ṣaḥīḥ
Hadith:
عَنْ مَيْمُونَةَ بِنْتِ الْحَارِثِ زَوْجِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ ...
Translation: From the noble wife of the Prophet ﷺ, Ḥaḍrat Maymūnah bint Ḥārith (RA), it is narrated: When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ would perform ghusl due to janabah, he would begin by washing his hands, then he would pour water from his right hand onto his left and wash his private part. Then he would strike his left hand upon the ground, rub it, and then wash it.
❷ Performing complete wudu just like for prayer
Evidence: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Hadith No. 248
Hadith:
عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، زَوْجِ النَّبِيِّ صلّى الله عليه وسلم ...
Translation: From the noble wife of the Prophet ﷺ, Ḥaḍrat ʿĀ’ishah (RA), it is narrated: When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ performed ghusl due to janabah, he would begin by washing his hands, then perform ablution as he used to perform for prayer.
❸ Pouring three handfuls of water over the head and passing fingers through the hair so that water reaches the roots
Evidence: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Hadith No. 718
Translation: Ḥaḍrat ʿĀ’ishah (RA) narrates that when the Messenger of Allah ﷺ performed ghusl due to janabah, he first washed his hands, then with his right hand poured water over his left and washed his private part, then performed ablution like for prayer. He then took water and passed his fingers into the roots of his hair, and when he felt that water had reached the roots well, he poured three handfuls of water over his head. Thereafter, he poured water over his entire body and finally washed his feet.
❹ Pouring water over the entire body
Evidence: Sunan al-Nasa’i, Hadith No. 249
Authenticity: Ṣaḥīḥ
Hadith:
عَائِشَةُ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهَا ...
Translation: Ḥaḍrat ʿĀ’ishah (RA) narrated regarding the ghusl of the Prophet ﷺ from janabah: He would wash his hands, perform ablution, run his fingers through his hair until the water reached his roots, and then pour water over the rest of his body.
Complete Method of Ghusl
- Cleanse the body from impurities, including washing the private part and thoroughly cleaning the hands.
- Perform ablution as performed for prayer.
- After washing both hands, pour three handfuls of water over the head.
- Run the fingers through the hair so that water reaches the roots.
- Pour water over the entire body.
- After pouring water over the body, move aside from that spot and wash both feet.
Evidence: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Hadith No. 718
عَنْ عَائِشَةَ ...
Translation: Ḥaḍrat ʿĀ’ishah (RA) narrated: When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ performed ghusl due to janabah, he would first wash his hands, then pour water with his right hand over his left and wash his private part, then perform ablution like that for prayer, then take water and pass his fingers through the roots of his hair, and when he was satisfied that water had reached well, he would pour three handfuls over his head, then pour water over his entire body, and finally wash his feet.
