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:

assalaam o alaikum brother i asked a question 2 weeks ago but tilll now i didnt got my ans so that wise now iam asking the same question as this was the month of ramazan i was in the tension but how ever it was passed but i dont know wht abt my fasts n prayers was valid or not but i hope may allah accept my fasts n prayers..... so my question was that during sex i used to covered my head n after sex i ll do taharat+abulution n after that in morning i ll have bath from neck to toe .i just want to know that whether i can do like this bcoz i cant have full bath with hair daily as iam staying in abroad and i have some other prob for taking full bath daily so plz reply me the best n thanks for the coo operationn ............eagerly waiting for ur reply alhfz

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Answer:

Ghusl after sex

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.

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 3.153 Narrated by Abu Bakr bin Abdur Rahman

My father and I went to 'Aisha and she said, "I testify that Allah's Messenger (saws) at times used to get up in the morning in a state of Janaba from sexual intercourse, not from a wet dream and then he would fast that day." Then he went to Um Salama (another wife of the Prophet (saws)) and she also narrated a similar thing.

Although it is highly recommended that one purify oneself immediately after sexual intercourse, there is absolutely no obligation upon the believers that they must purify themselves from the state of ‘janaba’ (ceremonial impurity) in order to begin or fulfill their fast.

There is evidence and allowance in the Sunnah that if one wishes to sleep, eat, or drink or do other chores before purifying oneself with ‘ghusl’ or full bath from their state of ‘janaba’, one must at least do the ‘wudu’ or ablution.

Sahih Muslim Hadith 603 Narrated by Aisha

Abdullah ibn AbdulQays said, "I asked Aisha about the Witr (prayer) of the Messenger of Allah (saws) and made mention of a hadith, then I said: ‘What did he (saws) do after having sexual intercourse? Did he take a bath before going to sleep or did he sleep before taking a bath?’ She said: ‘He (saws) did all these. Sometimes he (saws) took a bath and then slept, and sometimes he (saws) performed ablution only and went to sleep.’ I (the narrator) said: ‘Praise be to Allah Who has made things easy (for the believers in the deen).’

As much as being in the state of purity is not a pre-condition for beginning a fast, being in the state of purity is an absolute pre-condition for one to be able to offer their prayers.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chaper 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.

Now to address your specific questions:

..... so my question was that during sex i used to covered my head n after sex i ll do taharat+abulution n after that in morning i ll have bath from neck to toe

First and foremost, there is absolutely no requirement or obligation whatsoever for a believer, man or woman, to cover their heads when enjoying conjugal relations with their spouses in their sacred bond of marriage….but if one wishes or desires of their own will to do so, there is absolutely no harm.

Secondly, after sexual intercourse, if for any reason whatsoever you did not wish to purify yourself immediately with a full bath (ghusl), there is absolutely no harm; but it is preferred that one do ablution (wudu) before they do any chores or go to sleep.

Thirdly, if one is in the state of ceremonial impurity and chooses or intends to fast that day, there is absolutely no harm.

And finally, washing oneself from one’s neck to toe is fine; but if one is in a state of ceremonial impurity and wishes to become pure to enable them to offer their prayers…then it is absolutely obligatory and a pre-condition of prayer that one purify themselves with a full-bath or ‘ghusl’ whereby every part of one body is washed with no part being left dry.

Thus sister in conclusion, if you were in the state of ceremonial impurity and you begun your fasts, your fasts will be deemed valid and acceptable to Allah Subhanah; but to perform the full-bath or ‘ghusl’ after sexual intercourse is absolutely obligatory on a believer, man or woman, before they intend to offer their prayers….for prayers offered in the state of ceremonial impurity are not considered valid or lawful in the Sight of Shariah and of Allah Subhanah.

Washing oneself from one’s neck to one’s toe does not constitute a ‘ghusl’ or full bath in Shariah; thus if one is in the state of ceremonial impurity and intends to purify themselves in order to be eligible to offer their prayers, it is absolutely obligatory upon them to perform a full bath or ‘ghusl’ before they stand for their prayers.

Respected Sister, if perchance you have offered your prayers after merely washing yourself from your neck to your toe after being the state of ceremonial impurity, those particular number of prayers will not be deemed valid, and you would have to make up all those invalid prayers.

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