|
How
does a woman wash herself after sexual defilement and menses?
Question:
Is there any difference in the manner that a man and a woman
wash themselves after sexual defilement? Does a woman have
to undo her braids or is it sufficient for her just to pour
three handfuls of water over her hair as mentioned in the
hadeeth? What is the difference between the washing after
sexual defilement and the washing after menses?
Response:
There is no difference between men and women when it comes
to ghusl after sexual defilement. Neither of them have to
undo their hair for ghusl. It is sufficient to pour three
handfuls of water over their hair and then to pour water over
the rest of their bodies. This is based on the hadeeth of
Umm Salamah who said, "O Messenger of Allaah, "I am a woman
who has closely plaited hair on her head, should I undo it
for making ghusl from sexual defilement?" The Prophet (sal-Allaahu
`alayhe wa sallam) told her, "No, it is sufficient for
you to throw three handfuls of water on your head and then
pour water over yourself, and you will be purified." (Muslim)
However, if the man or woman has sidr, dye or something of
that nature in his hair that would keep the water from reaching
to the roots of the hair, he or she must remove that. If it
is something light and does not keep the water from reaching
the roots, it does not have to be removed. As for the woman
making ghusl after her menses, there is a difference of opinion
over whether she must undo her hair or not. The correct opinion
is that it is not obligatory upon her to do so. This is because
it is mentioned in one of the narrations from Umm Salamah,
recorded by Muslim, that she said, to the Prophet (sal-Allaahu
`alayhe wa sallam) 'O Messenger of Allaah, "I am a woman
who has closely plaited hair on her head, should I undo it
for making ghusl from menstruation and sexual defilement?"
The Prophet (sal-Allaahu
`alayhe wa sallam) told her, "No, it is sufficient for
you to throw three handfuls of water on your head and then
pour water over yourself, and you will be purified." This
narration is a clear text that it is not obligatory upon the
woman to undo her plaits after either menses or sexual defilement.
However, it is best for her to undo her hair while making
ghusl after menses as a precautionary measure, as a means
of avoiding the thing in which there is a difference of opinion
and as a way of reconciliation of the different evidences.
And
with Allaah lies all success and may Allaah send prayers and
salutations upon our Prophet (sal-Allaahu
`alayhe wa sallam) and his family and his companions.
The
Permanent Committee for Islaamic Research and Fataawa
Fataawa al-Mar.ah
|
