Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

one of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Dear      . I am from pakistan.  i have a question from you. our religion syays that cleanes is half religion & you can not say prayer without being cleaned . my problem is that when i see some badness my clothes become bad. and i do not able to say prayer. tell me can i say my prayer without taking a bath.

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Answer:

Prayer and cleaniness

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol, no person, no grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad(saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

If one has become ‘unclean’ because of sexual intercourse, or semen discharge; then it is obligatory that the person has to have a full bath or ‘ghusl’ to become clean and available for prayer. This is when full bath or ‘ghusl’ is mandatory.

If the person is not ‘unclean’ because of sexual intercourse or semen discharge, then he may make ablution or ‘wudu’ and be available for prayer.

Regarding the clothes, one must be sure that they have not become unclean due to their contact with unclean things like blood, urine, etc. If the clothes one is wearing is pure of these ‘unclean’ things like blood, urine, etc. he is permitted to pray.

There is a difference between the clothes being impure with blood, urine, etc. and the clothes being a little dirty with soil, mud, etc. The clothes which have been touched by impure things must be changed for prayer, and although it is obviously better to pray with clean clothes, one may pray with dirty clothes.

Your Question: tell me can i say my prayer without taking a bath.

If the ‘ghusl’ or full bath is not mandatory on you because of sexual intercourse or semen discharge, then there is no need to take a full bath for every prayer. One just has to make ablution and be available for prayer. There is no condition in Islam that one has to take a full bath for every prayer; one only has to do the wudu and pray.

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 5 Surah Maidah verse 6:O you who have believed, when you rise to offer the ‘salaah’ you must wash your faces and hands, and arms upto the elbows, and wipe your heads with wet hands, and wash your feet upto the ankles. And if you have become unclean (due to sexual intercourse, etc.), cleanse yourself with a full bath.

The act of ‘salaah’ or prayer is absolutely obligatory on every adult sane believer, no matter what his condition (except for the women in her menses, or someone who is terminally unconscious). There is absolutely no excuse for not offering the obligatory prayers in Islam.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan