The Ruling on Ghusl and Circumcision for One Who Converts to Islam
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The first question of Fatwa No. ( 1557 ):
Q1: A Christian man and his wife wished to enter Islam, so the presenter of the inquiry ordered them to perform ghusl (the full ritual bath), to pronounce the two testimonies of faith willingly and with submission, and to be circumcised. He asks whether this is correct or not, and requests that the statements of the Salaf (the earliest generations) on this matter be written to him, along with the manner in which a disbeliever would enter Islam during the time of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him)?
A1: The method of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) in calling disbelievers to Islam was to order them to testify that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah. If they responded to that, he would call them to the rest of the laws of Islam according to their importance and what the circumstances required. Among what has been reported on this is what al-Bukhari and Muslim narrated from Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) In another narration: , and among that is what al-Bukhari and Muslim narrated from Sahl ibn Sa'd al-Sa'idi: , and in another narration: Sunan an-Nasa'i 2435Sahih (Darussalam) . The Salaf differed regarding the ruling on ghusl for one who was a disbeliever
and then converted to Islam. Those who said it is obligatory are: Malik and Ahmad and Abu Thawr (may Allah have mercy on them); based on what Abu Dawud and al-Nasa'i narrated from Qays ibn 'Asim (may Allah be pleased with him), who said: , and the command implies obligation. Al-Shafi'i and some of the Hanbalis said: It is recommended that he perform ghusl, unless he had entered a state of major ritual impurity (janabah) during his time as a disbeliever, in which case ghusl becomes obligatory for him. And Abu Hanifa said: Ghusl is not obligatory for him in any case or under any circumstances. Therefore, what is prescribed for him is ghusl because of this hadith and what came in its meaning. As for circumcision, it is obligatory for men and a virtue for women. However, if the call of one who desires Islam to circumcision is delayed for some time until Islam settles in his heart and he feels at ease with it, that would be good, out of fear that rushing to call him to circumcision might repel him from Islam. Based on this, what you ordered the man and his wife to do upon their conversion to Islam is correct. And success is from Allah. May Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Q1: A Christian man and his wife wished to enter Islam, so the presenter of the inquiry ordered them to perform ghusl (the full ritual bath), to pronounce the two testimonies of faith willingly and with submission, and to be circumcised. He asks whether this is correct or not, and requests that the statements of the Salaf (the earliest generations) on this matter be written to him, along with the manner in which a disbeliever would enter Islam during the time of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him)?
A1: The method of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) in calling disbelievers to Islam was to order them to testify that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah. If they responded to that, he would call them to the rest of the laws of Islam according to their importance and what the circumstances required. Among what has been reported on this is what al-Bukhari and Muslim narrated from Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both)
That the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), when he sent Mu'adh to Yemen, said to him: "You will come to a people from the People of the Book, so let the first thing you call them to be the testimony that there is no god but Allah"
أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم لما بعث معاذًا إلى اليمن قال له: إنك تأتي قومًا من أهل الكتاب فليكن أول ما تدعوهم إليه شهادة أن لا إله إلاَّ اللهuntil they worship Allah alone. If they obey you in that, inform them that Allah has made obligatory upon them five prayers in every day and night. If they obey you in that, inform them that Allah has made obligatory upon them a charity to be taken from their rich and returned to their poor. If they obey you in that, beware of the best of their wealth, and fear the supplication of the oppressed, for there is no barrier between it and Allah
إلى أن يوحدوا الله فإن هم أطاعوك لذلك فأعلمهم أن الله افترض عليهم خمس صلوات في كل يوم وليلة، فإن هم أطاعوك لذلك فأعلمهم أن الله افترض عليهم صدقة تؤخذ من أغنيائهم وترد على فقرائهم، فإن هم أطاعوك لذلك فإياك وكرائم أموالهم، واتق دعوة المظلوم فإنه ليس بينها وبين الله حجابThat the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said to 'Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) when he gave him the banner on the day of Khaybar: "Proceed at your pace until you set up camp in their courtyard, then call them to Islam and inform them of what is obligatory upon them of the right of Allah the Exalted in it. By Allah, that Allah guides one single person through you is better for you than red camels"
أن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم قال لعلي رضي الله عنه حينما أعطاه الراية يوم خيبر: انفذ على رسلك حتى تنزل بساحتهم ثم ادعهم إلى الإِسلام وأخبرهم بما يجب عليهم من حق الله تعالى فيه، فوالله لأن يهدي الله بك رجلاً واحدًا خير لك من حمر النعمcall them to testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah
فادعهم إلى أن يشهدوا أن لا إله إلاَّ الله، وأن محمدًا رسول اللهand then converted to Islam. Those who said it is obligatory are: Malik and Ahmad and Abu Thawr (may Allah have mercy on them); based on what Abu Dawud and al-Nasa'i narrated from Qays ibn 'Asim (may Allah be pleased with him), who said:
I came to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) seeking Islam, so he ordered me to perform ghusl with water and suds
أتيت النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم أريد الإِسلام فأمرني أن أغتسل بماء وسدر
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.