Chapter on Obligatory and Recommended Ritual Washing

Muhammad narrated from his father, from Muhammad ibn Yahya, from Muhammad ibn Ali ibn Mahbub, from Ahmad ibn Muhammad, from al-Husayn ibn Sa'id, from Uthman ibn Isa, from Sama’ah, who said: I asked Abu Abdullah عليه السلام about the Friday bath (ghusl al-jumu'ah). Imam عليه السلام said: "It is obligatory during travel and residence, except that women are given a concession during travel due to scarcity of water." Imam عليه السلام also said: "The ghusl for janabah is obligatory, as is the ghusl for menstruation (hayd) when a woman becomes pure, and the ghusl for istihadah is obligatory when the blood surpasses the cotton pad (kursuf). In such a case, she must perform ghusl for every two prayers and one ghusl for fajr. If the blood does not surpass the cotton pad, then she must perform ghusl once a day and perform wudu for every prayer. The ghusl for postpartum bleeding (nifas) is obligatory, as is the ghusl for a newborn and the ghusl for (touching) a deceased person. The ghusl for one who washes a deceased person is obligatory, as is the ghusl for the one in a state of ihram (pilgrim’s garb), and the ghusl on the Day of Arafah. The ghusl for visiting sacred places (ziyarah) is obligatory unless there is an ailment, and the ghusl for entering the Kaaba is obligatory. The ghusl for entering the Haram (sacred precinct) is recommended, and it is preferable not to enter it without performing ghusl. The ghusl for mubahal (mutual prayer for invoking curses) is obligatory, as is the ghusl for seeking rain (istisqa). The ghusl on the first night of Ramadan is recommended, and the ghusl on the nights of the 21st and 23rd of Ramadan is sunnah, and one should not neglect it, as one of these nights is expected to be the Night of Qadr. The ghusl on the day of Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha is sunnah, and I do not like to leave it. The ghusl for seeking guidance (istikharah) is recommended."