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:

Assalamu Alaikum Brother Burhan,

First of all i would like to appreciate your team for having taken such a good job.May Allah reward all of u and may u continue it with Allah`s blessings and grace.

My Question is: Is it necessary to take an obligatory bath before sahr or should we take befor fajr or is it ok if we take it after fajr for a fast to be valid?

Some people say that we should take before sahr or else our fast becomes invalid but others say we can take after fajr because bath has nothing to do with fasting ,its needed only for praying.

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

Answer:

Ghusl before suhoor

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.

May Allah Subhanah reward you with the best of this world and the Hereafter for your kind comments of encouragement for our humble efforts in the propagation of the Truth. We humbly hope, beg, and pray the Merciful Lord accepts our humble and weak efforts, forgives us our shortcomings, and saves you, us, and all the believers from the torment of the Hell Fire. Ameen.

Your Question: Is it necessary to take an obligatory bath before sahr or should we take befor fajr or is it ok if we take it after fajr for a fast to be valid?

There is absolutely no condition in the Shariah which would make taking a full bath or ghusl before, after, or during the fast for a fast to be valid. Taking the full bath or ghusl has absolutely no bearing on the validity of the fast.

Your Statement: Some people say that we should take before sahr or else our fast becomes invalid but others say we can take after fajr because bath has nothing to do with fasting ,its needed only for praying.

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 2.21 Narrated by Abu Huraira

The Messenger of Allah (saws) said, "It is obligatory for every Muslim that he should take a bath (at least) once in seven days, when he should wash his head and body."

Narrated Abu Huraira through different narrators that the Prophet said, "It is Allah's right on every Muslim that he should take a bath (at least) once in seven days."

If one is not defiled by major sexual impurity, the wudu or ablution would suffice for one to offer his prayers. Also in light of the above hadiths of the Messenger of Allah (saws), it is obligatory upon every muslim to take a full bath at least once in seven days.

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 in Islam,

Burhan