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Sahih al-BukhariBathing (Ghusl)

On taking a ritual bath from Janābah (major ritual impurity), the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) used to wash his hands and perform ablution like that for prayer, then wash himself

Chapter: To rub the hair thoroughly (while taking a bath) till one feels that one has made his skin wet (underneath the hair) and the one pours water over it

Authentic hadith of Sahih al-Bukhari Sahih al-Bukhari 272

Narrator:Ā’ishah

حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدَانُ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنَا هِشَامُ بْنُ عُرْوَةَ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، قَالَتْ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم

إِذَا اغْتَسَلَ مِنَ الْجَنَابَةِ غَسَلَ يَدَيْهِ، وَتَوَضَّأَ وُضُوءَهُ لِلصَّلاَةِ ثُمَّ اغْتَسَلَ، ثُمَّ يُخَلِّلُ بِيَدِهِ شَعَرَهُ، حَتَّى إِذَا ظَنَّ أَنْ قَدْ أَرْوَى بَشَرَتَهُ، أَفَاضَ عَلَيْهِ الْمَاءَ ثَلاَثَ مَرَّاتٍ، ثُمَّ غَسَلَ سَائِرَ جَسَدِهِ‏.‏ وَقَالَتْ كُنْتُ أَغْتَسِلُ أَنَا وَرَسُولُ اللَّهِ، صلى الله عليه وسلم مِنْ إِنَاءٍ وَاحِدٍ نَغْرِفُ مِنْهُ جَمِيعًا‏.‏

‘Ā’ishah, the Mother of the Believers, (may Allah be pleased with her) reported:

On taking a ritual bath from Janābah (major ritual impurity), the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) used to wash his hands and perform ablution like that for prayer, then wash himself. He would, then, run his wet hand through his hair until he would feel that his skin had become wet. Then, he would pour water thrice over it, and then wash the rest of his body. She further said: I and the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) used to bathe from a single container from which we used to take water simultaneously.

Reported by Al-Bukhari (No. 272, 262) and An-Nasa’i (No. 420).

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Explanation

On taking a ritual bath from Janābah, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) would start washing his hands. Then, he would make Wudū’ (ablution) as he would for prayer. Then, he would pour water over his body. Then, he would run his wet hands through his hair, and when feeling that water had reached the roots of the hair and had wetted the skin, he would pour the water thrice over his head, then, he would wash the rest of his body. ‘Ā’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) said: I and the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) used to bathe from a single container from which we would take water simultaneously.

Lessons

  • Ghusl (ritual bath) has two types: valid and perfect. In the valid Ghusl, one intends Tahārah (ritual purification), then washes his whole body with water along with making Madmadah (rinsing the mouth) and Istinshāq (sniffing water into the nose and blowing it out). As for the perfect Ghusl, one takes a bath in the same manner the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) did in this Hadīth.
  • Janābh is used to refer to whoever ejaculated or had sexual intercourse without ejaculating.
  • It is permissible for the spouses to look at each other's ‘Awrah (private parts) and to take a bath together from the same vessel.

Explanation in Arabic

كانَ النبيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم إذا أراد الغسل من الجنابة بَدأ بغسل يديه،

ثم يتوضأ كما يتوضأ للصلاة، ثم يُفيضُ الماءَ على جسدِه، ثم يُخَلِّلُ شَعَرَ رأسِه بيديه، حتى إذا ظَنَّ أنه وَصَلَ الماءُ إلى أُصُولِ الشعر، وأروى البَشَرةَ، صَبَّ الماءَ على رأسِهِ ثلاثَ مَرَّات ثم غَسَلَ باقي جسدِه.

وقالتْ عائشةُ رضي الله عنها: كنتُ أَغْتَسِلُ أنا ورسولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم مِنْ إِنَاءٍ واحدٍ، نَغْرِفُ منه جميعًا.

  • الغسل نوعان: مُجْزِئٌ وكامِلٌ، أمَّا الغسلُ المُجزئ فيَنْوي الإنسانُ الطهارةَ، ثم يُعَمِّمُ جسدَه بالماءِ مع المضمضةِ والاستنشاق، وأمَّا الغسل الكامل فيَغتَسل كما اغتسل النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم في هذا الحديث.
  • تطلق الجنابة على كل مَن أَنْزَل المَنِيَّ، أو جامَعَ ولو لم ينزل.
  • جواز نظر أحد الزوجين لعورة الآخر، وغسلهما من إناء واحد.

Classical commentary

Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani — Fath al-Bari

قَوْله : ( عَبْد اللَّه ) هُوَ اِبْن الْمُبَارَك. قَوْله : ( إِذَا اِغْتَسَلَ ) أَيْ أَرَادَ أَنْ يَغْتَسِلَ. قَوْله : ( إِذَا ظَنَّ) يُحْتَمَلُ أَنْ يَكُونَ عَلَى بَابِهِ وَيُكْتَفَى فِيهِ بِالْغَلَبَةِ وَيُحْتَمَلُ أَنْ يَكُونَ بِمَعْنَى عَلِمَ. قَوْله ( أَرْوَى ) هُوَ فِعْلٌ مَاضٍ مِنْ الْإِرْوَاءِ يُقَالُ أَرْوَاهُ إِذَا جَعَلَهُ رَيَّانًا وَالْمُرَادُ بِالْبَشَرَةِ هُنَا مَا تَحْتَ الشَّعْرِ. قَوْله : ( أَفَاضَ عَلَيْهِ ) أَيْ عَلَى شَعْرِهِ. قَوْله : ( ثُمَّ غَسَلَ سَائِر جَسَده ) أَيْ بَقِيَّة جَسَدِهِ وَقَدْ تَقَدَّمَ مِنْ رِوَايَةِ مَالِك عَنْ هِشَام فِي أَوَّلِ كِتَاب الْغُسْل هُنَا " عَلَى جِلْدِهِ كُلّه " فَيُحْتَمَلُ أَنْ يُقَالَ إِنَّ سَائِر هُنَا بِمَعْنَى الْجَمِيع جَمْعًا بَ…

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Scholars’ grades

Grade taken from the status of the collection (Sahih al-Bukhari).

Other versions

Authentic Sunan an-Nasa'i 420

"When the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) performed Ghusl from Janabah, he would wash his hands, then perform Wudu' as for prayer, then he would perform Ghusl, then run his fingers through his hair to be sure that the water pour water over his head three times, then wash the rest of his body."

اغْتَسَلَ مِنَ الْجَنَابَةِ غَسَلَ يَدَيْهِ ثُمَّ تَوَضَّأَ وُضُوءَهُ لِلصَّلاَةِ ثُمَّ اغْتَسَلَ ثُمَّ يُخَلِّلُ بِيَدِهِ شَعْرَهُ حَتَّى إِذَا ظَنَّ أَنَّهُ قَدْ أَرْوَى بَشَرَتَهُ أَفَاضَ عَلَيْهِ الْمَاءَ ثَلاَثَ…

Narrated by Ā’ishah

Also reported by… (2)
  • السنن الكبرى للبيهقي (761)إِذَا اغْتَسَلَ مِنَ الْجَنَابَةِ ، غَسَلَ يَدَيْهِ وَتَوَضَّأَ وُضُوءَهُ لِلصَّلاةِ ، ثُمَّ يُخَلِّلُ بِيَدِهِ شَعْرَهُ حَتَّى إِذَا ظَنَّ أَنَّهُ قَدْ أَرْوَى بَشَرَتَهُ أَفَاضَ عَلَيْهِ الْمَاءَ ثَلاثَ مَرَّاتٍ ، ثُمَّ غَسَلَ سَائِرَ جَسَدِهِ , وَقَالَتْ : كُنْتُ أَغْتَسِلُ ، أَنَا وَرَسُولُ اللّ
  • المعجم الأوسط للطبراني (9544)إِذَا اغْتَسَلَ مِنَ الْجَنَابَةِ غَسَلَ كَفَّيْهِ ثَلاثَ مَرَّاتٍ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَغْمِسَهَا فِي الإِنَاءِ ، ثُمَّ أَفْرَغَ بِيَمِينِهِ عَلَى شِمَالِهِ ، يَغْسِلُ فَرْجَهُ حَتَّى يُنَقِّيَهُ بِشِمَالِهِ ، ثُمَّ تَوَضَّأَ وُضُوءَهُ لِلصَّلاةِ ، قَالَتْ : وَكَانَ لَهُ شَعْرٌ ، وَكَانَ يَأْخُذُ الْمَاءَ

On the same subject

Not graded Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) Bulugh al-Maram 119

Whenever Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) took Ghusl (bath) after sexual intercourse, he would begin by washing his hands, then pour water with his right hand on his left hand and wash his sexual organ. He would then perform ablution, then take some water and run his fingers through the roots of the hair…

وَعَنْ عَائِشَةَ رَضِيَ اَللَّهُ عَنْهَا قَالَتْ: { كَانَ رَسُولُ اَللَّهِ ‏- صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏-إِذَا اِغْتَسَلَ مِنْ اَلْجَنَابَةِ يَبْدَأُ فَيَغْسِلُ يَدَيْهِ, ثُمَّ يُفْرِغُ بِيَمِينِهِ عَلَى شِمَالِهِ, فَيَغْسِلُ…

Narrated by Ā’ishah + 5 other versions

Not graded Al-Adab al-Mufrad 959

Jabir said, "When the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, was in janaba, he would pour three cupfuls of water over his head."

حَدَّثَنَا مُوسَى، قَالَ‏:‏ حَدَّثَنَا وُهَيْبٌ، قَالَ‏:‏ حَدَّثَنَا جَعْفَرٌ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ جَابِرٍ قَالَ‏:‏ كَانَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم إِذَا كَانَ جُنُبًا، يَصُبُّ عَلَى رَأْسِهِ ثَلاَثَ حَفَنَاتٍ مِنْ…

+ 2 other versions

Authentic Sahih al-Bukhari 252

The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) used to pour water over his head thrice

Abu Ja‘far Muhammad ibn ‘Ali ibn al-Husayn ibn ‘Ali ibn Abi Tālib reported that he and his father were with Jābir ibn ‘Abdullāh, who had some people sitting with him. They asked him about the ritual bath. He replied: "One Sā‘ of water is sufficient for you." A man said: "It is not sufficient for…

كَانَ يَكْفِي مَنْ هُوَ أَوْفَى مِنْكَ شَعَرًا، وَخَيْرٌ مِنْكَ

Narrated by Jābir ibn ‘Abdullāh Explained

Authentic Sahih al-Bukhari 259

I poured water for the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) to take a ritual bath

Maymūnah (may Allah be pleased with her) reported: I poured water for the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) to take a ritual bath. So he poured water with his right hand on his left hand and washed them. Then he washed his private parts then rubbed his hand on the ground and…

فَأَفْرَغَ بِيَمِينِهِ عَلَى يَسَارِهِ فَغَسَلَهُمَا، ثُمَّ غَسَلَ فَرْجَهُ، ثُمَّ قَالَ بِيَدِهِ الأَرْضَ فَمَسَحَهَا بِالتُّرَابِ، ثُمَّ غَسَلَهَا، ثُمَّ تَمَضْمَضَ وَاسْتَنْشَقَ، ثُمَّ غَسَلَ وَجْهَهُ، وَأَفَاضَ…

Narrated by Maymūna bint al-Hārith Explained

Authentic Sahih al-Bukhari 276

Manner of performing Ghusl (ritual bath) from Janābah (major ritual impurity)

I placed water for the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) to make Ghusl, and I screened him with a garment. He poured over his hands and washed them. Then he poured with his right hand over his left one and washed his private parts, and he struck the ground with his hand and…

، وَصَبَّ عَلَى يَدَيْهِ فَغَسَلَهُمَا، ثُمَّ صَبَّ بِيَمِينِهِ عَلَى شِمَالِهِ، فَغَسَلَ فَرْجَهُ، فَضَرَبَ بِيَدِهِ الأَرْضَ فَمَسَحَهَا، ثُمَّ غَسَلَهَا فَمَضْمَضَ، وَاسْتَنْشَقَ، وَغَسَلَ وَجْهَهُ وَذِرَاعَيْهِ…

Narrated by Maymūna bint al-Hārith Explained

Authentic Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) Sunan Abu Dawud 240

when the Messenger of Allah (May peace be upon him) wanted to wash himself because of sexual defilement, he called for a vessel like HILAB (a vessel used for milking the camel). He then took a handful of water and began to pour it on the right side of his head and then on the left side. He then…

إِذَا اغْتَسَلَ مِنَ الْجَنَابَةِ دَعَا بِشَىْءٍ نَحْوِ الْحِلاَبِ فَأَخَذَ بِكَفِّهِ فَبَدَأَ بِشِقِّ رَأْسِهِ الأَيْمَنِ ثُمَّ الأَيْسَرِ ثُمَّ أَخَذَ بِكَفَّيْهِ فَقَالَ بِهِمَا عَلَى رَأْسِهِ ‏.‏

Narrated by Ā’ishah + 3 other versions

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