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:

Assalamoalikum. my question is that i have read many ahadis regarding wudu and ghusl but one thing that problems me is that we use showers and basins for performing wudu or ghusl ,so is it correct as for example washing our feet 3 times but using basins the water keeps coming andwe wash our feet completely. this done in mosques even. one more question is that if in a state of PURITY and on friday do we have to take full bath or ghusl OR just take a shower and clean ourselves Please reply as i am eagerly waiting for you answer.

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Answer:

Ghusl and shower

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: we use showers and basins for performing wudu or ghusl ,so is it correct as for example washing our feet 3 times but using basins the water keeps coming andwe wash our feet completely. this done in mosques even.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 5 Surah Maidah verse 6:

6 O ye who believe! When ye prepare for prayer wash your faces and your hands (and arms) to the elbows; rub your heads (with water); and (wash) your feet to the ankles. If ye are in a state of ceremonial impurity bathe your whole body.

Beloved brother, regardless of the source of the water, whether it is a shower, or a basin, or running tap water, or a pot, or bucket, or even from the running water of a river or the oceans, etc……regardless of the source of the water, provided one’s feet (for wudu) and one’s full body (for ghusl) are completely washed and absolutely no part of it remains dry, one would be deemed to have fulfilled the requirement of wudu/ghusl.

What is of absolute paramount importance when doing the wudu and the ghusl is that the water reaches every required part of the body, and no part of it is left untouched by water and thus dry.

Your Question: if in a state of PURITY and on friday do we have to take full bath or ghusl OR just take a shower and clean ourselves

Abu Saeed reported that the Prophet (saws) said,"Ghusl on Friday is ‘wajib’ (obligatory) on every adult believer, as is using a toothbrush and applying some perfume."

Related by al-Bukhari and Muslim.

Although it would best to follow the example of the ‘ghusl’ of the Messenger of Allah (saws), provided one has the intention to cleanse and purify oneself by way of ‘ghusl’, regardless of how one takes the ‘ghusl’, either by a full-bath, or in a bath-tub, or from a pot, or a bucket, or a shower, or in the rivers or oceans….absolutely regardless of the source of the water, as long as one washes and cleanses one’s body in such a way that no part of one’s body is left dry, one will be considered having taken the ‘ghusl’.

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.)

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