How is the full ritual bath for major ritual impurity performed?
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The questioner : He asks how the full ritual bath for major ritual impurity is performed.
The Shaykh : The full ritual bath for major ritual impurity has two forms: an obligatory one and a recommended one. As for the obligatory one, a person must wash his entire body, based on the saying of Allah the Exalted:[Al-Ma'idah 5:6] If a person washes his entire body in any manner, with the intention, that suffices. It is well known that rinsing the mouth and sniffing water into the nose are included in this, because the nose and mouth are considered part of the exterior, not the interior.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : This is why the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) would rinse his mouth and sniff water into his nose during the ablution for prayer. This is like an explanation of the saying of Allah the Exalted: In any case, this is the obligatory form of the bath: that a person cover his entire body with water once, including rinsing the mouth and sniffing water into the nose. As for the recommended form, it is that he washes his private parts and whatever soiled them.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Then he performs the ablution for prayer completely: he washes his face after rinsing the mouth and sniffing water into the nose, washes his hands to the elbows, wipes his head and ears, and washes his feet. After that, he pours water over his head until it saturates the roots of his hair, if he has a lot of hair.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Then he pours water over his head three times, then washes the rest of his body. This is according to the form narrated by 'A'ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him).
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : As for what Maimunah (may Allah be pleased with her) narrated, the matter differs somewhat. He washes his private parts and whatever soiled them, then strikes his hand on the ground or the wall two or three times to clean it after this washing.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : He washes it, then rinses his mouth and sniffs water into his nose, washes his face, then washes his hands to the elbows, then washes his head completely, but does not wash his feet. After that, he pours water over the rest of his body, then washes his feet in a separate place. This is how the Mother of the Believers, Maimunah (may Allah be pleased with her), narrated it.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : It is better for a person to do both forms, meaning that he sometimes takes a bath according to the form in the hadith of 'A'ishah (may Allah be pleased with her).
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : And sometimes according to the form from Maimunah, so that he acts upon both recommended practices. If a person can only manage one of these two forms, there is no blame on him for sticking to it. And success is from Allah.
The Shaykh : The full ritual bath for major ritual impurity has two forms: an obligatory one and a recommended one. As for the obligatory one, a person must wash his entire body, based on the saying of Allah the Exalted:
And if you are in a state of janabah, then purify yourselves
وإن كنتم جنبا فاطهرواThe questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : This is why the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) would rinse his mouth and sniff water into his nose during the ablution for prayer. This is like an explanation of the saying of Allah the Exalted:
and wash your faces
واغسلوا وجوهكمThe questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Then he performs the ablution for prayer completely: he washes his face after rinsing the mouth and sniffing water into the nose, washes his hands to the elbows, wipes his head and ears, and washes his feet. After that, he pours water over his head until it saturates the roots of his hair, if he has a lot of hair.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Then he pours water over his head three times, then washes the rest of his body. This is according to the form narrated by 'A'ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him).
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : As for what Maimunah (may Allah be pleased with her) narrated, the matter differs somewhat. He washes his private parts and whatever soiled them, then strikes his hand on the ground or the wall two or three times to clean it after this washing.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : He washes it, then rinses his mouth and sniffs water into his nose, washes his face, then washes his hands to the elbows, then washes his head completely, but does not wash his feet. After that, he pours water over the rest of his body, then washes his feet in a separate place. This is how the Mother of the Believers, Maimunah (may Allah be pleased with her), narrated it.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : It is better for a person to do both forms, meaning that he sometimes takes a bath according to the form in the hadith of 'A'ishah (may Allah be pleased with her).
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : And sometimes according to the form from Maimunah, so that he acts upon both recommended practices. If a person can only manage one of these two forms, there is no blame on him for sticking to it. And success is from Allah.