#552: Observing Ghusl with Soaps
QUESTION
” Assalam’alaykum @admin.A questioner ask: can i still perform ghusl after bathing with soap or the ghusl should b done first before bathing with soap?”
ANSWER
Wa ‘Alaykum Salām Warahmatullāh Wabarakātuh
It should be known that the Sharī’a has not made obligatory upon the one who observes the Ghusl to or to not use Soaps during, before or after the Ghusl.
And the belief that many Muslims seem to have that in the course of the Ghusl, they must not use Soaps but rather to make two different and distinct baths, one without soap which is the Ghusl, and the other with soap which is the ordinary bath, is completely unfounded and bearing a responsibility that is not placed upon them by the Sharī’ah.
Therefore, the matter is left to your discretion.
You may decide to, after washing the private organs and observing your Wudhū as it is done in Ghusl, to apply soap and sponge all over your body and then wash up your entire body with the intention of observing the Ghusl.
You may also decide to observe the Ghusl first without soap, and then after that, apply soap and then wash your body again.
And you may decide to wash yourself with soaps before you observe Ghusl.
All of these are permissible but what is most optimal and closest to the Sunnah of the Rasūl – salallāhu alayhi wasallam – which is established that he was economical with water usage during Ghusl and would not waste it, is to apply soaps all over the body after the Wudhū and then wash the entire body with water with the intention of Ghusl completely.
For it has been recorded in the Sahihayn from Anas bn Mālik – radiyallāhu ‘anhu – that the Rasūl – salallāhu ‘alayhi wasallam – used to observe the Ghusl with a Sā’ (four Mudd) or Five Mudd.
This will range between about 2.5 to 3 litres and shows how economical the Rasūl – salallāhu alayhi wasallam – was with water.
However, if what is asked in the question involves applying the soap, such as a liquid soap or disinfectants such as dettol into the water used for the Ghusl, then the ‘Ulamā differed on the ruling of that.
Imām Abū Hanīfah held the position that it were permissible and that the Ghusl was OK with it.
This position was also favoured by Imām Ahmad in one of the narrations from him.
Imām Ibn Taymiyyah also favoured this position whereas the Majority of the ‘Ulamā considered it wrong and the Ghusl not sound.
While the position held by Imām Abū Hanīfah is stronger, it is safer to go by the position favoured by the majority.
And Allāh knows best.
Bārakallāhu fīkum
Jazākumullāhu Khayran.
📚 IslamNode
