There is no requirement for sequence in the ritual bath for major ritual impurity.
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The Shaykh : A man, for example, is in a state of major ritual impurity and wants to take a ritual bath, so he started with his feet before his head. Is this permissible or not?
It is permissible.
Now, if he immerses himself in water, meaning he intended the ritual bath, immersed himself in the water, and came out, is it valid or not?
It is valid.
The student: Intention.
The Shaykh : It is known that intention is necessary, because Allah the Exalted said:[Al-Ma'idah 5:6].
But someone might say: Allah said: and the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) .
Can it not be said that this generality or absolute statement in the verse must be understood in light of what the Sunnah has detailed and clarified?
We say: Yes, this is a valid point, and it is a strong argument for someone to say: The Qur'an is general and the Sunnah has detailed and clarified it, so the general is understood in light of the specific. And this—as I said—is a strong argument and a methodological approach in the principles of jurisprudence.
But we say: What is established in Sahih al-Bukhari from the hadith of 'Imran ibn al-Husayn in the story of [the water running out on them, until they found water] with a polytheist woman, and he was brought to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) along with the Companions, and they drew water and gave it to the camels, and there was a man—among the Companions—a man whom the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) saw sitting apart, not praying with the group, so the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Sunan al-Bayhaqi 1:954.
And when the water came and there was a remainder, he said to the man: and he did not say do such and such in your ritual bath.
This indicates that a person in a state of major ritual impurity is not required to follow a specific sequence.
It is permissible.
Now, if he immerses himself in water, meaning he intended the ritual bath, immersed himself in the water, and came out, is it valid or not?
It is valid.
The student: Intention.
The Shaykh : It is known that intention is necessary, because Allah the Exalted said:
And if you are in a state of janabah, then purify yourselves
إن كنتم جنبا فاطهرواBut someone might say: Allah said:
purify yourselves
اطهرواIn his ritual bath, he would start by performing the ablution, then throw water on his head three times, then wash the rest of his body
كان في اغتساله يبدأ فيتوضأ، ثم يحثو على رأسه الماء ثلاثاً، ثم يغسل بقية بدنهCan it not be said that this generality or absolute statement in the verse must be understood in light of what the Sunnah has detailed and clarified?
We say: Yes, this is a valid point, and it is a strong argument for someone to say: The Qur'an is general
and purify yourselves
واطهرواBut we say: What is established in Sahih al-Bukhari from the hadith of 'Imran ibn al-Husayn in the story of [the water running out on them, until they found water] with a polytheist woman, and he was brought to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) along with the Companions, and they drew water and gave it to the camels, and there was a man—among the Companions—a man whom the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) saw sitting apart, not praying with the group, so the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
What prevented you from praying with us? He said: O Messenger of Allah, I was in a state of major ritual impurity and there was no water. He said: Use the clean earth, for it is sufficient for you
ما منعك أن تصلي معنا؟ فقال يا رسول الله: أصابتني جنابة ولا ماء، فقال: عليك بالصعيد، فإنه يكفيكAnd when the water came and there was a remainder, he said to the man:
Take this and pour it over yourself
خذ هذا فأفرغه على نفسكThis indicates that a person in a state of major ritual impurity is not required to follow a specific sequence.