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:

Assalamualaikum warahmatullahi wabarakathu

May Allah forgive your sins and open the gates to paradise for the wonderful work that you and your team are doing.

Brother, I have a few queries which I am hoping you can answer using the support of the Qu`ran and the Hadeeth`s.

1. A practicing brother has told me that the proper method to take Ghusl is to first wash your private parts, and then, wear a cloth around your waist and have the bath. He says that the Ghusl is invalid without the cloth. He also emphasized that you cannot take Wudu if you are not covered, so a Wudu taken while you are naked is invalid. Also, could you please describe in detail how the Ghusl is supposed to be made.

2. I have cats at home, and some of them are black. This brother also tells me that although black cats are not a `bad omen,` it is easier for the Jinns to possess black cats. I would like to know if there is any basis for this in the Sunnah.

I again ask Allah to reward you for the work that you are doing, and hope you remember me in your dua`s, as I will be doing the same for you.

JazakAllahu Khairan 

(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 and cat

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.

Q-1: A practicing brother has told me that the proper method to take Ghusl is to first wash your private parts, and then, wear a cloth around your waist and have the bath. He says that the Ghusl is invalid without the cloth. He also emphasized that you cannot take Wudu if you are not covered, so a Wudu taken while you are naked is invalid. Also, could you please describe in detail how the Ghusl is supposed to be made.

Fiqh-us-Sunnah Fiqh 1.58a

According to the practice of the Prophet (saws) the correct manner of performing ghusl is:

1. wash both hands three times,

2. wash the private parts,

3. make a complete ablution (like the one made for prayer--the Prophet(saws) used to delay washing his feet until the end of his ghusl),

4. rub water through one's hair three times, letting the water reach down to the roots of the hair,

5. pour water over the entire body, begining with the right side, then the left, washing under the armpits, inside the ears, inside the navel, inside the toes and whatever part of the body can be easily rubbed. This account is based on the following report from 'Aishah, the wife of the Prophet (saws): "When the Prophet (saws) took his bath after sexual intercourse, he would begin by washing his hands. Then he would pour water from his right hand to his left and wash his sexual organs, make the ablution for prayer, take some water and put his fingers to the roots of his hair to the extent that he sees that the skin is wet, then pour water over his head three times and then over the rest of his body." (Related by al-Bukhari and Muslim.) In one narration it states, "He (saws) used to rub his head with his hands until he was certain the water reached his skin, and then he poured water over it three times." It is also related that she said, "When the Prophet (saws) would perform ghusl after having had sexual intercourse, he would call for some water, which he would pour on his right hand to wash the right side of his head and then the left. He would then take water with both hands and pour it over his head." Said Maimunah, the wife of the Prophet (saws) "I put water out for the Messenger of Allah (saws) to perform ghusl. He washed his hands two or three times, and then he poured water from his right hand to his left and washed his private parts, wiped his hands on the earth, rinsed his mouth and nose, washed his face and hands, washed his head three times, poured water over his body, and finally moved from his place and washed his feet. I brought him a towel, but he did not take it, for he shook the water off with his hands." (Related by Bukhari, Muslim, Tirmidhi, Abu Dawood.)

Covering the pubic area is not a condition for performing the ghusl or full bath, and neither does it state anywhere in the Sunnah that wudu performed in ones privy in the state of nudity is invalid.

Q-2: I have cats at home, and some of them are black. This brother also tells me that although black cats are not a `bad omen,` it is easier for the Jinns to possess black cats. I would like to know if there is any basis for this in the Sunnah.

Sunan of Abu-Dawood Hadith 75 Narrated by Abu Qatadah

Kabshah, daughter of Ka'b ibn Malik and wife of Ibn Abu Qatadah, reported: AbuQatadah visited (me) and I poured out water for him for ablution. A cat came and drank some of it and he tilted the vessel for it until it drank some of it. Kabshah said: ‘He saw me looking at him; he asked me: “Are you surprised, my niece?’” I said: ‘Yes.’ He then reported the Messenger of Allah (saws) as saying: ‘The cat is not unclean (or impure); it is one of those who intermingle amongst you.’

There is absolutely nothing in the Quran or Surah which would give rise to the belief that black (or any color) cats are a ‘bad omen’ or that the Jinn has the power to possess black cats! These beliefs are nothing but superstitions, and superstitions have absolutely no basis or relevance in the deen of Truth brought by Prophet Mohamed (saws). The Messenger of Allah (saws) declared that the cat is not impure, and were amongst those pure animals which intermingle with humans.

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