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:

Dear mr burhan,

 

ASAK

Can you pls clarify this doubt of mine:- I understand that after having sexual intercourse, you are supposed to do wudoo if you want to eat, drink or sleep. Can I pray also in this state or do I have to do "gusl" in order to pray? What I mean is, I have intercourse with my wife in the night. I do wudoo & go to sleep. Can I do wudoo in the morning and go for my fajr prayers or do I have to do "gusl"?

=
Secondly, I just want to clarify the act of "gusl". I have read your earlier e-mail in which you have given detailed instructions as to how "gusl" is performed. I just want to know that if I take a complete normal shower with shampoo & soap ( which I take before going to work ) will this alone be a "gusl" by itself or does the wudoo have to be included?

Thanks

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Answer:

 

Sex and Ghusl

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 no one (no idol, no person,  no grave, no prophet,  no imam,  no dai,  nobody!) 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: Can you pls clarify this doubt of mine:- I understand that after having sexual intercourse, you are supposed to do wudoo if you want to eat, drink or sleep.

Fiqh-us-Sunnah Fiqh 1.41a

If a person in a state of post-sex impurity wants to eat, drink or have intercourse again, he should perform ablution.

Said 'Aishah, "When the Prophet (saws) was in a state of impurity because of intercourse and wanted to eat or sleep, he would perform ablution."

Ammar ibn Yasar reported that the Prophet permitted a person in post-sex impurity to eat, drink or sleep if he performed ablution first.

Related by Ahmad and at-Tirmidhi.

 

If one is in a state of post-sex impurity, the only act that will purify him is a ‘ghusl’ or full bath.  But if for any reason one wishes to postpone the taking of the ‘ghusl’ or full bath and wishes to eat or drink or sleep, it is recommended and the Sunnah that he should perform the wudu first before he eats or drinks or sleeps.

 

Your Question: Can I pray also in this state or do I have to do "gusl" in order to pray? What I mean is, I have intercourse with my wife in the night. I do wudoo & go to sleep. Can I do wudoo in the morning and go for my fajr prayers or do I have to do "gusl"?

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 (post-sexual) impurity, bathe your whole body.  

 

If one is in the state of post-sexual impurity, it is absolutely obligatory for the person to have a ‘ghusl’ or full bath of purification before he makes himself available to offer his prayers. 

 

There is no harm if one performs the wudu after having sexual intercourse and goes to sleep; but when he wakes up to offer his fajr prayers, it is absolutely obligatory for the person to have a ‘ghusl’ or full bath of purification before he can offer his prayers.

 

Your Question: Secondly, I just want to clarify the act of "gusl". I have read your earlier e-mail in which you have given detailed instructions as to how "gusl" is performed. I just want to know that if I take a complete normal shower with shampoo & soap ( which I take before going to work ) will this alone be a "gusl" by itself or does the wudoo have to be included?
Whenever the Messenger of Allah (saws) intended to purify himself from post-sexual impurity, he would first perform the wudu as one does for prayer and then take the ‘ghusl’ or full bath; thus it is a Sunnah to perform the wudu before the ‘ghusl’ when one wishes to purify oneself from major ceremonial impurity.

 

But if for some reason, one does not perform the wudu but takes a full bath with the intention to purify himself, his full bath will suffice for his purification and he can make himself available for his prayers.  What is absolutely obligatory for purification after major ceremonial impurity is that one has the intention to purify himself, and that he washes his whole body with water without leaving any part of his body dry; if he fulfills these two conditions, his full bath will suffice for purification.  Performing the wudu during the ‘ghusl’ is a recommended Sunnah and the best form of purification; but if for some reason one forgets or does not perform the wudu during the ghusl, his purification will still be complete.

 

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