Chapter on Ghusl and the Ruling of the Junub

Introduction
Ghusl—with a ḍammah on the ghayn—is the verbal noun of ightisāl and denotes the very act of washing.

In the technical sense it is: the application of water to the whole body in a specific manner. Its obligation is confirmed by the Qur’an, the Sunnah, and scholarly consensus.

Allah the Exalted says, “And if you are in a state of janabah, then purify yourselves” (al-Mā’idah 5:6).

Numerous hadiths deal with this, among them: “When he sits between her four limbs and exerts himself, ghusl becomes obligatory” (al-Bukhari 291; Muslim 348).

The scholars unanimously maintain that janabah affects the entire body and that ghusl is therefore compulsory.

A person is called junub because he must keep away from certain acts of worship and from the places where they are performed. Allah says, “And do not approach the mosque while you are in a state of janabah—unless you are merely passing through—until you bathe” (al-Nisāʾ 4:43). The leading jurists agree that it is unlawful for the junub to remain in a mosque. Ahmad, however, allowed one who has performed wudu to stay in the mosque and even sleep there, following the practice of the Companions.

The wisdom behind bathing after janabah is expressed in His words, “And if you are in a state of janabah, then purify yourselves” (al-Mā’idah 5:6).

Imam Ahmad and Abu Dawud narrated from Abū Rāfiʿ that the Prophet ﷺ once went around to all of his wives in a single day, bathing at each home. I said, “O Messenger of Allah, would you not make it one bath?” He replied, “This is purer, better, and cleaner.”