Critical Analysis of Hadith on Wudu and Omission of Masah in Ghusl Janabah

Source: Ahkam wa Masail, Chapter on Ghusl, Vol. 1, p. 93

Question:​

In Sunan an-Nasa’i, there is a hadith about omitting the masah (wiping of the head) in wudu during ghusl janabah. Is this hadith authentic? Other narrations mention:


"يَتَوَضَّأُ مِثْلَ وُضُوْئِهِ لِلصَّلَاةِ"
(He ﷺ would perform wudu like the wudu for prayer)


Also, in Sahih Muslim, there is a narration negating washing the feet before ghusl. How do these reports reconcile?

Answer:​

Alḥamdulillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu was-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, ʿammā baʿd:

1. Hadith: "يَتَوَضَّأُ مِثْلَ وُضُوْئِهِ لِلصَّلَاةِ"​

• Meaning: “He ﷺ would perform wudu like the wudu for prayer.”
• This indicates that all acts of wudu before ghusl — including washing the feet and wiping the head — are performed in full.

2. Negation of washing the feet in Sahih Muslim​

• In Sahih Muslim, there is no mention of washing the feet before ghusl.
• The same narration states that the feet were washed after ghusl.
• This shows that both methods are Sunnah — washing the feet either before or after ghusl.

3. The Sunan an-Nasa’i narration and its authenticity​

• Wording:
  
  "حَتَّى إِذَا بَلَغَ رَأْسَهُ لَمْ يَمْسَحْ وَأَفْرَغَ عَلَيْهِ الْمَاءَ"
  (When he reached his head, he did not wipe it; rather, he poured water over it.)
  
  
• Authenticity: The chain is sahih.
• Meaning: It negates the usual wudu-style masah of the head because, in ghusl, water is poured directly over the head, fulfilling the requirement without a separate masah.

Conclusion:​

• The Sunan an-Nasa’i narration is authentic.
• The negation of masah refers only to the wudu-style masah; during ghusl, pouring water over the head suffices.
• Other narrations, like “He ﷺ performed wudu like for prayer,” and Sahih Muslim’s report complement this understanding — showing flexibility in performing certain wudu acts before or after ghusl.

ھٰذا ما عندي، والله أعلم بالصواب