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:

Aslamualikum

There is a hadith in the hadith software which I downloaded from your site, (I urge everyone on this forum to download this software) regardng ghusl. That after intercourse or wet dream I person should wash his private parts, perform ablution and then can pray. It states further that it is safer to take a bath and is the last order. There does it mean that a person after intercourse or wet dream does not need to do ghusl but can take a normal shower right?

Regarding ablution are we supposed to wash our mouth and nose once or thirce. Becasue in hadith 004:161 i think its being done once, as I wash the nose and mouth thrice, is that permissible.

thank you.

(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:

Wudu wash once or thrice

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 none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Your Question: There does it mean that a person after intercourse or wet dream does not need to do ghusl but can take a normal shower right?

Fiqh-us-Sunnah Fiqh 1.58a

According to the practice of the Prophet (saws) the correct manner of performing ghusl after making intention to purify oneself and saying ‘Bismillah’ 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.)

It would obviously be best and preferred if one who is in the state of ceremonial impurity to follow the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (saws) quoted above when they intend to purify themselves with a ‘ghusl’.

But if who makes the intention to purify themselves and simply takes a full shower or bath, making absolutely sure that no part of their body is left dry, the majority of the scholars are of the opinion that such a shower or bath would suffice for their purification.

Your Question: Regarding ablution are we supposed to wash our mouth and nose once or thirce. Becasue in hadith 004:161 i think its being done once, as I wash the nose and mouth thrice, is that permissible.

There is indeed evidence in the authentic and established Sunnah which states the Messenger of Allah (saws) would at times wash his required body parts in wudu once and at times twice, but most times he (saws) is recorded to have washed them thrice. Thus if one washes their required body parts in wudu once it would suffice, and if one washes them thrice it would be closest to the preferred Sunnah and practice of the Messenger of Allah (saws).

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

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan