Fiqh4Sisters1: Al Ghusl From Haydh&Nifaas

Bismillaah

In sha Allaah I will be posting up some beneficial aspects of Fiqh of Worship relating to sisters. This will be a 2 part post relating to fiqh of tahara (purification).

كيفية الغسل من الحيض والنفاس

Types of ghusl for muslim woman:

1. Ghusl from janaba(sexual relations with spouse)

2. Ghusl from haydh (menses) and nifaas (postpartum bleeding)

HOW TO MAKE GHUSL?

METHOD 1
1. make niyyah (intention)  for GHUSL and WUDHU
2. say BISMILLAH
3.wash the hands
4. make istinjaa'(washing the private part until there are no more traces of blood)
5.make wudhu except for the feet
6.pour water over the head(and make sure that water reaches the entire hair and roots of head)
7.wash and rub the body well. start with the RIGHT side and LEFT side.

8. finally, wash the feet (To complete the wudhu).

OR 

METHOD 2

You can make niyyah, say bismillah, make istinjaa' and begin making wudhu EXCEPT for the feet. You then pour water over your head(you can do this by using the shower also), and then complete with the rest of the steps...

This is another method which the ulama have mentioned. Also, it is preferable for a woman performing ghusl from haydh(menses) or nifaas(post partum bleeding) to unbraid her hair but it is not a must.

*If someone wants to take a normal shower by using shampoo and soap, they should do this BEFORE they do the ghusl or AFTER the ghusl but they should not mix.

The following is from Sh. ibn Uthaymeen('s one of the major scholars of fiqh in our times, rahimahullah) book on rulings related to muslim women during their periods:

Requirement of ghusl


When the menstruating woman’s period ends, she must do ghusl by purifying her entire body, because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said to Faatimah bint Abi Hubaysh: “When the time of your menses comes, stop praying, then when it ends, do ghusl and pray.” Narrated by al-Bukhaari.

MAKE SURE WATER REACHES EVERY PART OF YOUR BODY!

*The minimum that is required for ghusl is to ensure that water reaches every part of the body, even beneath the hair. But it is better if it is done in the manner mentioned in the hadeeth from the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), when Asma’ bint Shakl asked him how a menstruating woman should do ghusl. He (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: One of you should take her water and lotus leaves and purify herself and purify herself well. Then she should pour water over her head and rub it vigorously, so that it reaches the roots of her hair, and pour water over herself. Then she should take a piece of cloth that is scented with musk and purify herself with it.” Asma’ said: “How should she purify herself with it?” He said: ‘Subhaan Allaah, let her purify herself with it.” ‘Aa’ishah said to her: “She should follow the traces of blood.”

Narrated by Muslim.

*She does not have to undo the braids in her hair, unless they are tied so tightly that she fears that the water will not reach the roots, because of the hadeeth of Umm Salamah (may Allaah be pleased with her) that is narrated in Saheeh Muslim, where she asked the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) and said: I am a woman with braided hair; should I undo it when doing ghusl following menses or for janaabah? He said: “No, rather it will be sufficient for you to pour three handfuls of water on your head, then pour water over yourself and you will be purified.”

If a menstruating woman becomes pure during the time for prayer, she must hasten to do ghusl so that she can offer the prayer on time. 

WHAT DO YOU DO IF YOU DO NOT HAVE WATER TO MAKE GHUSL?

ANSWER: If she is travelling and does not have any water, or she has water but she is afraid that she may be harmed by using it, or she is sick and the water will harm her, then she should do tayammum instead of ghusl, until the reason for not doing it ceases, then she should do ghusl.

DO NOT DELAY MAKING GHUSL!!

Some women become pure at the time for prayer, but they delay ghusl until later, saying that they cannot purify themselves fully in this time. But this is no excuse, because they can limit themselves to the minimum that is required in ghusl and do the prayer on time, then when they have more time they can purify themselves more fully. End quote.

These are the most important rulings that have to do with menses in women.

Risaalah fi’l-Dima’ al-Tabee’iyyah li’l-Nisa’ by Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (may Allaah have mercy on him).


compiled by Umm Abdullah Aisha