Chapter on Ritual Washings (Ghusl) and the Method of Performing Ghusl for Janabah (major impurity)

It is narrated from Muhammad ibn al-Husayn, from some of his companions, who reported from Abu Abdullah عليه السلام: Imam عليه السلام said to his (travel) companions: "Tomorrow you will arrive at a place where there is no water, so perform (Jumu’ah) ghusl (ritual purification) today in preparation for tomorrow." Thus, we performed ghusl on Thursday for the Friday prayer.

It is narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad, from al-Husayn ibn Musa ibn Ja‘far, from his mother and the mother of Ahmad ibn Musa ibn Ja‘far عليه السلام: They (Narrators) said: “We were with Abu al-Hasan عليه السلام in the desert while we were heading to Baghdad. Imam عليه السلام said to us on Thursday: ‘Perform ghusl (ritual purification) today for tomorrow, which is Friday, for the water will be scarce there tomorrow.’ So, we performed ghusl on Thursday for the Friday prayer.”

It is narrated from Muhammad ibn Ali ibn Mahbub, from Ahmad, from Ali ibn Mahbub, from Ahmad, from Ali ibn Saif, from his father, from al-Husayn ibn Khalid al-Sayrafi. He (Narrator) said: “I asked Abu al-Hasan al awwal (the First) عليه السلام, ‘Why has the ghusl (ritual purification) of Friday been made obligatory?’" Imam عليه السلام replied: "Indeed, Allah سبحانه وتعالى the Exalted has completed the obligatory prayer with the supererogatory prayer, and He سبحانه وتعالى completed the obligatory fasting with supererogatory fasting, and He سبحانه وتعالى completed the obligatory wudu (ablution) with the ghusl of Friday, to make up for any error, shortcoming, or forgetfulness therein."

It is narrated from Ahmad ibn al-Hasan, from his father, from Muhammad ibn Marwan ibn Muslim, from Muhammad ibn Abdullah, from Abu Abdullah عليه السلام. Imam عليه السلام said: "The Ansar used to work on their fields and properties. When Friday came, people would be disturbed by the odours from their armpits and bodies. So the Messenger of Allah سبحانه وتعالى (peace be upon him and his family) commanded them to perform ghusl (ritual purification) on Fridays, and thus it became a Sunnah (established practice)."

It is narrated from Muhammad ibn Isa al-Ubaydi, from Durust, from Ibrahim ibn Abdul-Hamid: Abu al-Hasan عليه السلام said: “The Messenger of Allah سبحانه وتعالى (peace be upon him and his family) entered upon Aisha, and she had placed her water jug in the sun. He صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم said: "O Humayra, what is this?" She replied: "I use it to wash my head and body." He صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم said: "Do not do this again, for it causes leprosy."

It is narrated by Sa'd ibn Abdullah, from Hamza ibn Ya'la, from Muhammad ibn Sinan, who said that one of our companions narrated from Abu Abdullah عليه السلام: Imam عليه السلام said: "There is no harm in performing wudu (ablution) with water that has been placed in the sun."

Muhammad bin Ali bin Mahbub, from Muhammad bin Ahmad bin Ismail Al-Hashimi, from Abdullah bin Al-Hasan, from his grandfather Ali bin Ja'far, from his brother Imam Musa bin Ja'far عليه السلام, said: I asked Imam عليه السلام about a man who finds water in a stream or a stagnant pool and fears that wild animals may have drunk from it. Can he perform ghusl for janabah and wudu for prayer with it if he cannot find any other water, and the water does not amount to a sa‘ for janabah or a mudd for wudu, and it is scattered? What should he do? Imam عليه السلام said: "If his hand is clean, let him take a handful of water with one hand and sprinkle it behind him, in front of him, to his right, and to his left. If he fears that it will not be sufficient, let him wash his head three times, then wipe his skin with his hand. That will suffice him, Allah سبحانه وتعالى willing."

From him, from Ahmad bin Al-Hasan bin Ali, from Amr bin Saeed, from Musaddiq bin Sadaqah, from Ammar Al-Sabati, who said: Abu Abdullah عليه السلام said: "When you perform ghusl from janabah, say: 'O Allah سبحانه وتعالى, purify my heart and accept my effort, and make what is with You better for me. O Allah سبحانه وتعالى, make me among those who repent often, and make me among those who purify themselves.' And when you perform ghusl for Friday, say: 'O Allah سبحانه وتعالى, purify my heart from every affliction that destroys my religion and invalidates my deeds. O Allah سبحانه وتعالى, make me among those who repent often, and make me among those who purify themselves.'"

Muhammad bin Ali bin Mahbub, from Ali bin Al-Sindi, from Hammad bin Isa, from Shu'ayb, from Abu Basir, who said: I asked Abu Abdullah عليه السلام about a man who finds semen on his garment but does not know that he experienced a wet dream. Imam عليه السلام said: "He should wash what he finds on his garment and perform wudu."

Al-Husayn bin Saeed, from Al-Hasan, from Zur'ah, from Sama’ah, who said: I asked Imam عليه السلام about a man who sees semen on his garment after waking up in the morning but did not see in his dream that he experienced a wet dream. Imam عليه السلام said: "He should perform ghusl, wash his garment, and repeat his prayer."

Ahmad bin Muhammad, from Uthman bin Isa, from Sama’ah, who said: I asked Abu Abdullah عليه السلام about a man who sleeps and does not see in his dream that he experienced a wet dream, but then finds water on his garment and on his thigh. Does he have to perform ghusl? Imam عليه السلام said: "Yes."

Muhammad bin Ali bin Mahbub, from Al-Abbas, from Abdullah bin Al-Mughirah, from Mu'awiyah bin Ammar: I asked Abu Abdullah عليه السلام about a man who experienced a wet dream, and when he woke up, he found a small amount of wetness. Imam عليه السلام said: "It is nothing unless he is ill, for in that case, he becomes weak, and ghusl is required."

Al-Husayn bin Saeed, from Fadalah, from Al-Husayn bin Uthman, from Ibn Muskan, from Anbasah bin Mus'ab, who said: I said to Abu Abdullah عليه السلام regarding a man who experienced a wet dream, and when he woke up in the morning, he looked at his garment and did not find anything on it. Imam عليه السلام said: "He may pray in it." I said: “What about a man who saw in a dream that he experienced a wet dream, and when he got up, he found a small amount of wetness on the tip of his private part?” Imam عليه السلام said: "Ghusl is not required for him. Indeed, (Imam) Ali عليه السلام used to say: 'Ghusl is only required for the greater discharge of fluid.'"

Ahmad bin Muhammad, from Ibrahim bin Abi Mahmoud, who said: I asked Abu Al-Hasan Al-Ridha عليه السلام about a woman whose shirt or lower garment is affected by the moisture from her private part while she is in a state of janabah. Should she pray in it? Imam عليه السلام said: "If she performs ghusl, she may pray in them."

Muhammad bin Ali bin Mahbub, from Al-Abbas bin Ma'ruf, from Al-Husayn bin Yazid, from Isma'il bin Abi Ziyad, from Imam Ja’far Al Sadiq عليه السلام, from his father Imam Al Baqir عليه السلام, from his forefathers عليه السلام, who said: Imam عليه السلام said: "The wives of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم, may Allah سبحانه وتعالى bless him and his family, when they performed ghusl (ritual bathing) after janabah (major ritual impurity), would leave traces of the yellow fragrance (sufrah al-tib) on their bodies. This was because the Prophet صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم, may Allah سبحانه وتعالى bless him and his family, ordered them to pour water over their bodies abundantly."

From him, from Al-Abbas, from Abdullah bin Al-Mughirah, from Hariz, from Abdullah bin Abi Ya'fur, who said: I said to Abu Abdullah عليه السلام: “A man sees something in a dream and feels desire, then wakes up and checks but finds nothing. After a short while, something comes out.” Imam عليه السلام said: "If he is ill, then he must perform ghusl. But if he is not ill, then there is nothing upon him." I said to Imam عليه السلام: “What is the difference between the two?” Imam عليه السلام said: "Because when a man is healthy, the (seminal) fluid comes out with a strong discharge, but if he is ill, it does not come out except afterward."

From him, from Musa bin Ja'far bin Wahb, from Dawood bin Mahziyar, from Ali bin Isma'il, from Hariz, from Muhammad bin Muslim, who said: I said to Abu Ja'far عليه السلام: “A man sees something in his dream, feels pleasure and desire, then gets up and does not find anything on his garment.” Imam عليه السلام said: "If he is ill, then ghusl is required. But if he is healthy, then there is nothing upon him."

Al-Husayn bin Sa’eed, from Al-Nadr, from Muhammad bin Abi Hamzah, from Sa’eed Al-A‘raj, who said: I heard Abu Abdullah عليه السلام say: "A man may sleep while he is in a state of janabah, and a woman may sleep while she is in a state of janabah."

From him, from Al-Hasan, from Zur'ah, from Sama'ah, who said: I asked Imam عليه السلام about a person in a state of janabah who becomes junub again and then wants to sleep. Imam عليه السلام said: "If he wishes to perform wudu, then let him do so, and ghusl is better than that. But if he sleeps without performing wudu or ghusl, then there is nothing upon him, if Allah سبحانه وتعالى, the Exalted, wills."

Ahmad, from Ali bin Al-Hakam, from Abdullah bin Yahya Al-Kahili, who said: I asked Abu Abdullah عليه السلام about a woman with whom a man has intercourse, and then she begins menstruating while she is in the place of ghusl. Should she perform ghusl or not? Imam عليه السلام said: "That which invalidates the prayer has occurred, so she should not perform ghusl."

Ali bin Ibrahim, from his father, from Hammad bin Isa, from Hariz, from Zurarah, who said: It was said: "If you are ill and experience desire, it may be that what comes out is seminal fluid, but it comes out weakly due to your illness - little by little, over time. Therefore, perform ghusl because of it."

Al-Husayn bin Sa’eed, from Hammad, from Hariz, from Zurarah, Muhammad bin Muslim, and Abu Basir, from Abu Ja’far and Abu Abdullah عليه السلام, who said: Imam عليه السلام said: "The Messenger of Allah سبحانه وتعالى (may Allah سبحانه وتعالى bless him and his family) performed wudu with a mudd (a small measure) and performed ghusl with a sa' (a larger measure)." Then Imam عليه السلام said: "He صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم and his wife performed ghusl with five mudds from a single container." Zurarah said: “I asked Imam عليه السلام, how did they do it?” Imam عليه السلام said: "He صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم began by striking his hand with water before her and cleaned his private area, then she struck her hand and cleaned her private area. Then He صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم poured water over himself, and she poured water over herself until they both finished. The amount with which the Messenger of Allah سبحانه وتعالى (may Allah سبحانه وتعالى bless him and his family) performed ghusl was three mudds, and the amount with which she performed ghusl was two mudds. It sufficed for both of them because they shared it together. However, if one performs ghusl alone, then a sa' is necessary."

Al-Husayn bin Sa’eed, from Ibn Abi Umayr, from Umar bin Udhaynah, from Zurarah, who said: I asked Abu Abdullah عليه السلام about the ghusl for janabah. Imam عليه السلام said: "You begin by washing your hands, then pour water with your right hand over your left hand and wash your private area. Then you rinse your mouth and inhale water into your nose. After that, you wash your body from the top of your head to your feet. There is no wudu before or after it. Everything that the water touches has been purified. And if a person in a state of janabah immerses himself in water with a single immersion, it suffices him, even if he does not rub his body."

Muhammad bin Al-Hasan Al-Saffar, from Ibrahim bin Hashim, from Nuh bin Shu'ayb, from Hariz, from Muhammad bin Muslim, who said: Abu Ja'far عليه السلام said: "A person in a state of janabah and a menstruating woman may open the Mushaf (copy of the Quran) from behind a cloth and recite from the Quran as much as they wish, except for the verses of prostration. They may pass through the mosque but should not sit in it, and they should not approach the two sacred mosques (Al-Masjid Al-Haram and Al-Masjid Al-Nabawi)."

Sa'd bin Abdullah, from Al-Husayn bin Bundar Al-Sarmi, who said Ahmad bin Al-Hasan narrated to me, from his father, from Dawood bin Abi Yazid Al-Attar, who is Dawood bin Farqad, from Burayd bin Mu'awiyah Al-'Ijli, who said: I said to Abu Abdullah عليه السلام: “Can a man have relations with his slave girl while in water?" Imam عليه السلام said: "There is no harm in it."

Al-Husayn bin Sa’eed, from Muhammad bin Al-Qasim, who said: I asked Abu Al-Hasan عليه السلام about a person in a state of janabah sleeping in the mosque. Imam عليه السلام said: "He should perform wudu, and there is no harm in him sleeping in the mosque or passing through it."

Sa'd bin Abdullah, from Muhammad bin Al-Husayn bin Abi Al-Khattab, from Muhammad bin Isma'il bin Bazi', who said: I asked Abu Al-Hasan Al-Ridha عليه السلام: "Can a man recite (Quran) in the bathhouse or have intercourse in the bathhouse?". Imam عليه السلام said: "There is no harm in it."

From him, from Abu Ja'far, from Al-Husayn bin Ali bin Yaqtin, from his brother Al-Hasan, from their father Ali bin Yaqtin, who said: I asked Abu Al-Hasan Musa عليه السلام about a man reciting (Quran) in the bathhouse and having intercourse in the bathhouse. Imam عليه السلام said: "There is no harm in it."

Ahmad bin Muhammad, from Al-Hasan bin Mahbub, from Abdur-Rahman bin Abi Abdullah, who said: I asked Abu Abdullah عليه السلام about a man who has intercourse with his wife - can he sleep in that state? Imam عليه السلام said: "Indeed, Allah سبحانه وتعالى, the Exalted, takes the souls during their sleep, and one does not know what calamity may befall him. Therefore, when he finishes, let him perform ghusl." I said: "Can a person in a state of janabah (major ritual impurity) eat before performing wudu'?" Imam عليه السلام said: "We sometimes feel lazy, but let him wash his hands. However, performing wudu' is better."

Ahmad bin Muhammad, from Al-Husayn bin Sa’eed, from Abdullah bin Bahr, from Hariz bin Abdullah, who said: It was said to Abu Abdullah عليه السلام: “Can a person in a state of janabah apply oil and then perform ghusl?” Imam عليه السلام said: "No."

Ahmad bin Muhammad, from Ali bin Al-Hakam, from Abdul-Malik bin Utbah Al-Hashimi, who said: I asked Abu Al-Hasan عليه السلام about whether it is permissible for a husband to be unclothed and perform ghusl in the presence of his wife's servant. Imam عليه السلام said: "There is no harm in what she (the wife) has permitted him of that, as long as he does not exceed the limits (agreed beforehand with the wife)."

From him, from Sa’d bin Isma’il, from his father Isma’il bin Isa, who said: I asked Al-Ridha عليه السلام about a servant who belongs to a man's child, or his parent, or his wife - Is it permissible for him to be unclothed in her (servant) presence or not? Imam عليه السلام said: "As for the (servant belonging to the) child, I see no harm in it."

Ahmad bin Muhammad bin Isa, from Muhammad bin Sahl, from his father, who said: I asked Abu Al-Hasan عليه السلام about a man who leaves the ghusl of Friday, either out of forgetfulness or for some other reason. Imam عليه السلام said: "If he forgot, then his prayer is complete. But if he left it intentionally, then ghusl is more beloved to me. And if he did so, let him seek forgiveness from Allah سبحانه وتعالى and not repeat it."

Ibrahim bin Ishaq Al-Ahmari, from a group, from Ibn Faddal, from Abdullah bin Bukayr, from his father Bukayr bin A'yun, who said: I asked Abu Abdullah عليه السلام: “In which nights should I perform ghusl during the month of Ramadan?” Imam عليه السلام said: "On the nineteenth, the twenty-first, and the twenty-third (of month of Ramadan), and the ghusl should be at the beginning of the night." I said: “What if someone sleeps after performing ghusl?” Imam عليه السلام said: "It is like the ghusl of Friday - if you perform it after Fajr, it suffices you."