The obligatory bath, or Ghusl in Arabic, means to apply water to every part of the body. As Allah (SWT) has said in Surah 5:6 of the Holy Quran:
“…If you are in state of Janaba (i.e. after a sexual discharge), purify yourself (bathe your whole body)…”
In addition, there is the hadith which reads:
Narrated from Aisha (RA), she said,
“The Prophet (SAW) took a bath because of four circumstances: junub, on Friday, after bruise, and after bathing the corpse.” (Hadith narrated by Abu Dawood and it was legalized by Ibn Khuzaimah).
As for a Muslim woman, the ghusl bath is obligatory due to the following circumstances:
1.Seminal Emission
When someone discharges semen either during sleep or when awake due to seeing something, petting, or any other reasons, then he/she shall bathe. As it is stated from the hadith,
It was narrated from Abu Sa’eed al-Khudry (RA) that he said: Prophet (SAW) said: “There is a necessity of bathing because of seminal emission” (Hadith narrated by Muslim and originated from Sahih Bukhari).
The bath is also mandatory for men and women who have a dream and emit semen, but not obligatory when they dream and do not discharge semen. It is mentioned in the following hadith:
Anas b. Malik reported that Umm Sulaim narrated it that she asked the Apostle of Allah (SAW) about a woman who sees in a dream what a man sees (sexual dream). The Messenger of Allah (SAW) said: In case a woman sees that, she must take a bath. Umm Sulaim said: I was bashful on account of that and said: Does it happen? Upon this the Apostle of Allah (SAW) said: Yes (it does happen), otherwise how can (a child) resemble her? Man’s discharge (i.e. sperm) is thick and white and the discharge of woman is thin and yellow; so the resemblance comes from the one whose genes prevail or dominate. (Hadith narrated by Muslim :: Book 3 : Hadith 608)
Umm Sulaim (Salamah) had thought that women will not get sexual dreams the way that men do but apparently women can also experience these dreams and therefore, a child can be like his/her father or similar to his/her mother.
2. The Touching Of Two Intimately
Ghusl bath is compulsory for every man and woman due to sexual intercourse whether there is a seminal discharge or not.
It is justified if a husband has to sit in between the four limbs of a woman (i.e. two arms and two legs, some say both legs and thighs, and some define the two legs and two thighs) or if intercourse transpires then it is obligatory for him/her to take a bath.
It was narrated from Abu Hurairah (RA) said, “The Prophet (SAW) said,” If any one of you sits in between the four members of the woman’s body and he had intercourse with her then it is obligatory to shower.” (Hadith narrated by Al-Bukhari and Muslim) and augmented by Muslim:”Although the semen does not appear”.
Abu Huraira reported: The Apostle of Allah (SAW) said: When a man has sexual intercourse, bathing becomes obligatory (both for the male and the female). In the hadith of Matar the words are: Even if there is no orgasm. Zuhair has narrated it with a minor alteration of words. (Hadith narrated by Muslim :: Book 3 : Hadith 682).
Abu Musa reported: There cropped up a difference of opinion between a group of Muhajirs (Emigrants and a group of Ansar (Helpers) (and the point of dispute was) that the Ansar said: The bath (because of sexual intercourse) becomes obligatory only-when the semen spurts out or ejaculates. But the Muhajirs said: When a man has sexual intercourse (with the woman), a bath becomes obligatory (no matter whether or not there is seminal emission or ejaculation). Abu Musa said: Well, I satisfy you on this (issue). He (Abu Musa, the narrator) said: I got up (and went) to ‘A’isha and sought her permission and it was granted, and I said to her: O Mother, or Mother of the Faithful, I want to ask you about a matter on which I feel shy. She said: Don’t feel shy of asking me about a thing which you can ask your mother, who gave you birth, for I am too your mother. Upon this I said: What makes a bath obligatory for a person? She replied: You have come across one well informed! The Messenger of Allah (SAW) said: When anyone sits amidst four parts (of the woman) and the circumcised parts touch each other a bath becomes obligatory. (Hadith narrated by Muslim :: Book 3 : Hadith 684).
Illustration by AA Sumadri
