Taken from: "Ahkām wa Masā’il in the Light of the Qur’an and Hadith", Volume 02
A scholar stated that during ghusl janābah, one should wet the hands and thoroughly run them through the hair before pouring three handfuls of water on the head. Is this correct according to Hadith?
✔ Yes, the scholar's statement is correct and supported by an authentic narration from Umm al-Mu'minīn ʿĀ’ishah (رضي الله عنها).
Narrated by ʿĀ’ishah (RA):
“When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to perform ghusl from janābah,
he would first wash his hands, then pour water with his right hand onto his left to wash his private parts.
Then he would perform wudūʼ, then wet his hands and run them through his hair,
then pour three handfuls of water over his head,
then wash his entire body, and finally wash his feet.”
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Kitāb al-Ghusl, Bāb al-Wudūʼ Qabla al-Ghusl; Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim – wording of Muslim)
✔ It is Sunnah to run wet hands through the hair before pouring water over the head during ghusl janābah.
✔ This practice ensures that water reaches the roots of the hair, fulfilling the requirement of complete purification.
Wallāhu Aʿlam.
❀ Question:
A scholar stated that during ghusl janābah, one should wet the hands and thoroughly run them through the hair before pouring three handfuls of water on the head. Is this correct according to Hadith?
❀ Answer:
✔ Yes, the scholar's statement is correct and supported by an authentic narration from Umm al-Mu'minīn ʿĀ’ishah (رضي الله عنها).
❖ Authentic Hadith:
Narrated by ʿĀ’ishah (RA):
“When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to perform ghusl from janābah,
he would first wash his hands, then pour water with his right hand onto his left to wash his private parts.
Then he would perform wudūʼ, then wet his hands and run them through his hair,
then pour three handfuls of water over his head,
then wash his entire body, and finally wash his feet.”
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Kitāb al-Ghusl, Bāb al-Wudūʼ Qabla al-Ghusl; Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim – wording of Muslim)
❀ Summary:
✔ It is Sunnah to run wet hands through the hair before pouring water over the head during ghusl janābah.
✔ This practice ensures that water reaches the roots of the hair, fulfilling the requirement of complete purification.
Wallāhu Aʿlam.
