Can I Wash Myself with Soap Before Doing Ghusl?
Hanafi Fiqh
Answered by Ustadh Sufyan Qufi
Question
1. Can I wash with shampoo and soap before completing the ghusl steps?
2. is there a requirement to use a specific hand for rinsing the nose and mouth, or to follow a specific order when ensuring each area is washed once?
Answer
In the name of Allah, the Most Compassionate, Most Merciful,
I pray this finds you in the best of states.
1. Yes, it is permissible to first wash yourself using soap and shampoo before completing a ritual bath. [Shurunbulali, Nur al-Idah]
2. It is recommended (mustahab) to wash your mouth and your nose using the right hand. It is also recommended to expulse the water from your nose using the left hand. [Ibid]
Lady ‘Aisha (Allah be pleased with her) has said: “The Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace be upon him) used to like to start from the right side on wearing shoes, combing his hair and cleaning or washing himself and on doing anything else.” [Bukhari]
And Allah knows best.
Wassalam
[Ustadh] Sufyan Qufi
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat
Ustadh Sufyan Qufi is an advanced seeker of knowledge, originally from Algeria, who grew up in France. He began searching far and wide for answers to the fundamental questions of life and was disappointed at the answers he found. Then he connected with various traditional teachers and gradually connected with SeekersGuidance. He embarked on his journey of learning through the various teachers at SeekersGuidance, including his mentor Shaykh Faraz Rabbani. He studied numerous texts in Islamic Law, Theology, Hadith, and other areas with Shaykh Faraz Rabbani and other teachers, including Shaykh Abdurrahman al-Sha‘ar, Shaykh Ali Hani, and others. He is an active instructor at SeekersGuidance and answers questions through the SeekersGuidance Answers Service.