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How Should I Clean My Clothes and My Body to Be Allowed to Pray?

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Answered by Ustadh Tabraze Azam

Question: Assalam alaykum

1. I have put impure clothes in a bucket with pure clothes. Afterwards I wash them with water. Are my clothes now pure?

2. Is it compulsory to use the hand when washing the private parts in the toilet?

3. Is it necessary to wash the rear private part during the ritual bath?

Answer: Wa alaikum assalam wa rahmatullah,

1. Yes, your clothes are deemed purified. If there are no signs of filth, there is no filth transfer.

2. No, it is not obligatory to wash your private parts because cleaning those areas (istinja’) is a sunna.

3. Yes, it is a sunna to clean your private parts before bathing.

Please see: A Reader on Waswasa (Baseless Misgivings) and: The Ritual Bath (ghusl): Obligatory, Recommended, and Disliked

And Allah Most High alone knows best.

wassalam,
[Ustadh] Tabraze Azam

Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Ustadh Tabraze Azam holds a BSc in Computer Science from the University of Leicester, where he also served as the President of the Islamic Society. He memorised the entire Qur’an in his hometown of Ipswich at the tender age of sixteen, and has since studied the Islamic Sciences in traditional settings in the UK, Jordan and Turkey. He is currently pursuing advanced studies in Jordan, where he is presently based with his family.

Are Semi-Permanent Eyelash Extensions Permissible?

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Answered by Ustadh Salman Younas

Question: Assalam aleykum

There has been an increase of a current trend: ‘semi-permanent eyelash extensions’. Individual lashes are glued to the lash-line, lasting for around 6 to 8 weeks. Does this impact the validity of the wudu and ghusl?

Answer: assalamu alaykum

If these eyelash extensions prevent water from reaching the underlying skin or hair to which they are attached, the wudu or ghusl would not be valid.

The reason for this is that it is a condition for the validity of ritual purity that the entire area that we have been commanded to wash is washed. The face is one such area and includes everything that is deemed to be from the “face” including one’s natural lashes and the underlying skin.

Related: Is it Permissible to Wear Fake Eyelashes?

[Ustadh] Salman Younas

Checked and approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Ustadh Salman Younas graduated from Stony Brook University with a degree in Political Science and Religious Studies. After studying the Islamic sciences online and with local scholars in New York, Ustadh Salman moved to Amman. There he studies Islamic law, legal methodology, belief, hadith methodology, logic, Arabic, and tafsir.

Should the Water Be in a Bucket When Performing a Ritual Bath?

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Answered by Ustadh Tabraze Azam

Question: Assalam alaykum

1. Should the water be in a bucket when performing a ritual bath?

2. Does the water in the bucket become impure when drops of water from my body fall into it?

Answer: Wa alaikum assalam wa rahmatullah,

1. You can use a shower head for the bath. It is not a condition to use a bucket or another type of container.

2. Used water is pure. You should strive to avoid letting it fall into your container of pure water, as much as reasonably possible. But it only becomes problematic when the used water is in greater volume than the pure water.

And Allah Most High alone knows best.

[Ustadh] Tabraze Azam

Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Ustadh Tabraze Azam holds a BSc in Computer Science from the University of Leicester, where he also served as the President of the Islamic Society. He memorised the entire Qur’an in his hometown of Ipswich at the tender age of sixteen, and has since studied the Islamic Sciences in traditional settings in the UK, Jordan and Turkey. He is currently pursuing advanced studies in Jordan, where he is presently based with his family.

Can I Wear the Same Clothes I Was Wearing Before Performing a Ghusl (Ritual Bath)?

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Answered by Ustadh Tabraze Azam

Question: Assalam alaykum

Can I wear the same clothes I was wearing before performing a ghusl (ritual bath)?

Answer: Wa alaikum assalam wa rahmatullah,

Yes, you can wear the same clothes, namely, the clothes you became ritually impure in, after the bath. But you should remove any filth first before praying in them.

And Allah Most High alone knows best.

[Ustadh] Tabraze Azam

Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Ustadh Tabraze Azam holds a BSc in Computer Science from the University of Leicester, where he also served as the President of the Islamic Society. He memorised the entire Qur’an in his hometown of Ipswich at the tender age of sixteen, and has since studied the Islamic Sciences in traditional settings in the UK, Jordan and Turkey. He is currently pursuing advanced studies in Jordan, where he is presently based with his family.

My Husband Wants Marital Relations Every Day, and Washing My Hair So Often Makes It Fall Out. What Do I Do?

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Answered by Ustadha Raidah Shah Idil

Question: Assalam alaykum,

I used to pray before I got married, and even performed tahajjud daily. However, my husband wants to make love daily, and I am unable to wash my hair every day because my hair falls out. I cannot say no to him, but I want to pray. He is a loving husband, but doesn’t pray at all. Do I have to wash my hair for ghusl?

Answer: Assalam alaykum wa rahmat Allah wa barakatuh,

I pray this finds you well. May Allah reward you for reaching out to us.

Prayer

Dear sister, I pray that Allah grants you the strength and courage to return to your obligatory prayers, and to tahajjud. Establishing your prayer is the most important thing you can do in your life.

Please make your repentance, and strive to do everything your power to return to your prayer. You will need to pay back all the prayers you have missed. Please make a timetable and commit to it.

Ghusl

It is obligatory for you to wash your hair when you make ghusl. I encourage you to think of creative solutions. Is it possible for you to cut your hair?

Please see your doctor and a nutritionist. Perhaps you are lacking in certain vitamins and minerals, especially if you are breastfeeding. Please find out what supplements you should be taking.

Marriage

“And know that your properties and your children are but a trial and that Allah has with Him a great reward.” [Qur’an, 8:28]

When registration reopens, please enrol in and complete this course: Marriage in Islam: Practical Guidance for Successful Marriages.

I pray that this course will help you gain a better understanding about the foundation of a successful Islamic marriage – sincere concern. This concern does not stop at the dunya, but it extends all the way to the akhirah.

Because of this, please make dua for Allah to guide your husband. Establishing his prayer is extremely important. Please be a good example for him. Be a woman of tahajjud again, and be that example for your child. Ramadan is coming soon, so prepare for that by establishing your prayers.

Connection

How can you nourish your connection to Allah? Could you give in regular charity? Listen to and read more Qur’an? I encourage you to listen to podcasts such as Content of Character and The Rawha.

I pray that Allah grants you the courage and wisdom to return to prayer.

Please see:

Love, Marriage and Relationships in Islam: All Your Questions Answered
A Reader on Tawba (Repentance)

Wassalam,
[Ustadha] Raidah Shah Idil

Checked & Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Ustadha Raidah Shah Idil has spent almost two years in Amman, Jordan, where she learned Shafi’i’ fiqh, Arabic, Seerah, Aqeedah, Tasawwuf, Tafsir and Tajweed. She continues to study with her Teachers in Malaysia and online through SeekersHub Global. She graduated with a Psychology and English degree from University of New South Wales, was a volunteer hospital chaplain for 5 years and has completed a Diploma of Counselling from the Australian Institute of Professional Counsellors. She lives in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, with her husband, daughter, and mother-in-law.

Do I Have to Remove My Earrings to Perform a Valid Wudu or Ghusl?

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Answered by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Question: Assalamu alaykum

What is the ruling regarding taking ablution while wearing earrings? Do I have to take my earrings out? Is it same for ghusl?

Answer:  Walaikum assalam,

I hope you’re doing well, insha’Allah.

You don’t need to take off your earrings for a valid ritual washing (wudu). For the ritual bath (ghusl), you can simply move the earrings, to ensure that water reaches the entire area of the ear.

[ref: Shurunbulali, Maraqi al-Falah]

Please find related answers in the SeekersHub Answers.

And Allah is the giver of success and facilitation.

[Shaykh] Faraz Rabbani

Shaykh Faraz Rabbani is a scholar and researcher of Islamic law and Executive Director of SeekersHub Global After ten years overseas, Shaykh Faraz returned to Canada in the Summer of 2007. In May 2008 he founded SeekersHub Global to deal with the urgent need to spread Islamic knowledge—both online and on the ground—in a reliable, relevant, inspiring, and accessible manner. He has been repeatedly listed as one of the world’s 500 most influential Muslims (The Muslim500).

Do I Have to Use a Sink to Perform a Ritual Bath If My Shower Doesn’t Work? [Shafi’i]

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Answered by Shaykh Salim Ahmad Mauladdawila

Question: Assalamu alaykum

My shower doesn’t work. However, I still have access to my kitchen sink. Due to having access to that source of water, I put some towels down on the floor and perform the ritual bath using the sink.

Can I perform a tayammum instead?

Answer:  Wa’leykum salam,

Ofttimes when one is in a rare situation, it is difficult to have presence of mind of all variables and available options. A situation warranting tayammum is by definition a rare or atypical one, hence situations like an unconsidered water source may arise.

The “classic tayammum scenario” would have us in the middle of a desert with no available water. An obligatory search within a defined area must be completed before tayammum is permissible, but if there were an available source which we didn’t think of, it would not affect our tayammum as, for all intents and purposes, it wouldn’t exist to us.

Similarly in this situation, knowledge of the kitchen water source would necessitate its usage, however should the individual not have thought of the kitchen shower solution through no neglect on their own part (being that they looked for shower solutions, but the kitchen shower simply did not come to mind due to how out-of-the-ordinary it is), we could classify it as an unthought-of water source.

Basically, if she were aware of the kitchen shower solution, she’d have to do it. If she were not aware of it, she’d just do tayammum and repeat the prayer when water is available as her ignorance of the solution renders it non-existent.

[Shaykh] Salim Ahmad Mauladdawila

How Deep Should I Watch My Ear During the Ritual Bath (Ghusl)?

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Answered by Ustadh Tabraze Azam

Question: Assalam alaykum

1. How deep should I watch my ear in ghusl?

2. I often think that sperm has exited my private parts after perforing a ghusl despite knowing that, in fact, it didn’t happen. Are my prayers valid?

Answer: Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullah,

1. During the ritual bath (ghusl), you are expected to wash the outer ear, including the opening of the ear canal- namely, the same place you reach during the ritual washing (wudu) by inserting the tip of your little finger. You do not wash inside the ear canal as this is obviously harmful.

2. No, your prayer is unaffected. These misgivings are to be fought with, by supplication and correct application of the Sacred Law, and removed from your psyche altogether, by reading: The OCD Workbook by Bruce Hyman.

[Shurunbulali, Maraqi al-Falah]

Please also see: A Reader on Waswasa (Baseless Misgivings) and: The Ritual Bath (ghusl): Obligatory, Recommended, and Disliked Acts

[Ustadh] Tabraze Azam

Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Ustadh Tabraze Azam holds a BSc in Computer Science from the University of Leicester, where he also served as the President of the Islamic Society. He memorised the entire Qur’an in his hometown of Ipswich at the tender age of sixteen, and has since studied the Islamic Sciences in traditional settings in the UK, Jordan and Turkey. He is currently pursuing advanced studies in Jordan, where he is presently based with his family.

How Should I Achieve Ritual Purity When Going to the Bathroom Is Dangerous? [Shafi’i]

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Answered by Shaykh Salim Ahmad Mauladdawila

Question: Assalamu alaykum

The ceiling directly above my bathtub is leaking and may collapse at any moment.

What should I do if I am in a state of major impurity in this case?

Answer: Bismillah al-Rahman al-Rahim

If the person person cannot find another (bath)room to use (family, friend, or neighbor’s house,etc.) to take the ritual bath to remove major ritual impurity before the time for the current obligatory prayer is over, they should perform tayammum and pray, making up the prayer(s) they performed with the tayammum when once they can perform the ritual bath.

It should be noted that tayammum is only valid for one obligatory prayer and it’s associated supererogatory prayers, and must only be performed once the time for the prayer has entered and the Qibla (prayer direction) in known.

Regards,

[Shaykh] Salim Ahmad Mauladdawila

Is Having a Regular Shower After an Intention Enough for Performing a Valid Ritual Bath According to the Shafi’i School?

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Answered by Shaykh Abdurragmaan Khan

Question: Assalam alaykum,

Is having a regular shower after an intention enough for performing a valid ritual bath according to the Shafi’i school?

Answer: Wa alaykum salam

The Fard or compulsory ghusl have two integrals.

1. Intention
2. Washing the entire body including, hair, the scalp and nails, with unrestricted water (ma’ mutlaq).

In short unrestricted water refers to water in its original state, unchanged in its color, smell or taste. What this essentially means is that washing the body with soapy water will not suffice. The sequence you wish to follow is inconsequential as long as the above integrals are executed. Yes, the preferred method of the compulsory gusl, is as follows:

1. Recite bismiLlah and wash the hands
2. Wash the private parts and wherever najasah may be found.
3. Rinse the mouth and clean the nose (madmadah and istinshaq)
3. Perform a complete wudu (including the usage of miswak, rinsing the mouth and cleaning the nose) with the intention of removing minor impurity, even if he was not in a state of minor impurity, prior to his state of major impurity.
4. Pour water over the head
5. Pour water of the right front of the body and then the right back.
6. Pour water of the left front of the body and then the left back.

And Allah knows best

Wassalam
[Shaykh] Abdurragmaan Khan

Shaykh Abdurragmaan received ijazah ’ammah from various luminaries, including but not restricted to: Habib Umar ibn Hafiz—a personality who affected him greatly and who has changed his relationship with Allah, Maulana Yusuf Karaan—the former Mufti of Cape Town; Habib ‘Ali al-Mashhur—the current Mufti of Tarim; Habib ‘Umar al-Jaylani—the Shafi‘i Mufti of Makkah; Sayyid Ahmad bin Abi Bakr al-Hibshi; Habib Kadhim as-Saqqaf; Shaykh Mahmud Sa’id Mamduh; Maulana Abdul Hafiz al-Makki; Shaykh Ala ad-Din al-Afghani; Maulana Fazlur Rahman al-Azami and Shaykh Yahya al-Gawthani amongst others.