The Ruling on Ghusl for Entering Makkah

Question : As for the ghusl, do we say that the ghusl performed now while traveling for the ihram suffices for the ghusl of entering Makkah? Because there is only an hour or so between it and entering Makkah. Or do we say that if you want to apply the Sunnah, then when you enter Makkah, stop and perform ghusl?

Answer : This is a point of hesitation for me; I am hesitant about it because those who perform ghusl at al-Sayl or at Rabigh proceed to Makkah without becoming disheveled or dusty, so the purpose is achieved. And if we say that it is a Sunnah when entering Makkah, given that they recently performed ghusl for the ihram, it would be a hardship for the people. Perhaps a person would come and say, "I want to do the Sunnah," and the second and third would do it, and there would be a crowd. It appears, if Allah wills, that it is sufficient to perform ghusl when one boards for Makkah. As for the one who entered ihram from al-Hudaybiyyah, the distance is far, so he performs ghusl when entering Makkah, not from Dhu al-Hulayfah. As for the one who entered ihram from Dhu al-Hulayfah, the distance is far, so he performs ghusl when entering Makkah.