Source: Fatāwā Arkān-e-Islām
When a person is in a state of janabah (major ritual impurity), performing ghusl is obligatory, as Allah ﷻ says:
﴿وَإِن كُنتُم جُنُبًا فَاطَّهَّروا﴾
"If you are in a state of janabah, then purify yourselves (by bathing)."
[Al-Ma’idah: 6]
If the weather is extremely cold and the person in janabah cannot bathe with cold water:
﴿وَإِن كُنتُم جُنُبًا فَاطَّهَّروا وَإِن كُنتُم مَرضى أَو عَلى سَفَرٍ ... فَلَم تَجِدوا ماءً فَتَيَمَّموا صَعيدًا طَيِّبًا فَامسَحوا بِوُجوهِكُم وَأَيديكُم مِنهُ﴾
"If you are in a state of janabah, purify yourselves; and if you are ill or on a journey … and do not find water, then perform tayammum with clean earth and wipe over your faces and hands with it."
[Al-Ma’idah: 6]
Narrated by ‘Imran bin Husayn (RA):
A man in janabah did not pray with the congregation because there was no water. The Prophet ﷺ said:
«عَلَيْكَ بِالصَّعِيدِ فَإِنَّهُ يَكْفِيكَ»
"Use clean earth, for it will suffice you."
[Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith: 344]
Later, when water became available, the Prophet ﷺ told him:
«اِذْهَبْ فَأَفْرِغْهُ عَلَيْكَ»
"Go and pour it over yourself."
[Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith: 344]
والله أعلم بالصواب
Obligation of Ghusl for Janabah
When a person is in a state of janabah (major ritual impurity), performing ghusl is obligatory, as Allah ﷻ says:
﴿وَإِن كُنتُم جُنُبًا فَاطَّهَّروا﴾
"If you are in a state of janabah, then purify yourselves (by bathing)."
[Al-Ma’idah: 6]
If Cold Weather Prevents Ghusl
If the weather is extremely cold and the person in janabah cannot bathe with cold water:
- If possible, warm the water and perform ghusl.
- If not possible to warm the water due to unavailability of means, then he may perform tayammum and pray.
Evidence from Qur’an
﴿وَإِن كُنتُم جُنُبًا فَاطَّهَّروا وَإِن كُنتُم مَرضى أَو عَلى سَفَرٍ ... فَلَم تَجِدوا ماءً فَتَيَمَّموا صَعيدًا طَيِّبًا فَامسَحوا بِوُجوهِكُم وَأَيديكُم مِنهُ﴾
"If you are in a state of janabah, purify yourselves; and if you are ill or on a journey … and do not find water, then perform tayammum with clean earth and wipe over your faces and hands with it."
[Al-Ma’idah: 6]
Purification Achieved by Tayammum
- Tayammum in a state of janabah renders the person ritually pure.
- This purity remains until water becomes available.
- Once water is found, ghusl becomes obligatory.
Hadith Evidence
Narrated by ‘Imran bin Husayn (RA):
A man in janabah did not pray with the congregation because there was no water. The Prophet ﷺ said:
«عَلَيْكَ بِالصَّعِيدِ فَإِنَّهُ يَكْفِيكَ»
"Use clean earth, for it will suffice you."
[Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith: 344]
Later, when water became available, the Prophet ﷺ told him:
«اِذْهَبْ فَأَفْرِغْهُ عَلَيْكَ»
"Go and pour it over yourself."
[Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith: 344]
Important Rulings
- If a person in janabah performs tayammum, it is valid until:
- Water becomes available, or
- He enters janabah again.
- If minor impurity occurs (e.g., wudu-breaking act), he must perform a new tayammum.
- Tayammum for janabah must be repeated if janabah occurs again.
والله أعلم بالصواب
