The Ghusl for women

22-4-2004 | IslamWeb

Question:

My question is about the ruling for females making Ghusl (ablution). I recently got married and realised that it is too difficult for women to take a full bath, including washing the hair every time after intercourse specially in winter. I want to know if women can take a bath without undoing their hair braids and without wetting the whole scalp and hair. Please write details of how women should perform Ghusl.

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Answer:

Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds; and may His blessings and peace be upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon all his Family and Companions.

 

Applying water to every part of the body during ritual bath is compulsory except inside the eyes.  Hence, it is an obligation to apply the water to the hair in order to wash it.  If the water reaches the scalp then undoing the braids is not compulsory.  If the braids prevent water from reaching the scalp then undoing them is compulsory as mentioned clearly in Al-Bahr al-Raiq and other books of Fiqh.

 

Allah knows best.