Book 5: Bathing (Ghusl)

Sahih al-Bukhari 248

ʿĀʾishah (r.a), wife of the Prophet (saw) narrated that when the Prophet (saw) was required to take a bath due to janābah, he would start by washing his hands. Then he would perform wuḍūʾ in the same manner as he would for Prayer. Following this, he would dip his fingers in the water and rub them against the roots of his hair. Then he would pour three handfuls [of water] over his head, before finally pouring [water] over his body.

Translation: Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat

Sahih al-Bukhari 249

Maimūnah (r.a), wife of the Prophet (saw), narrated that the Messenger of Allāh (saw) performed ablution, as he would for Prayer, but left out his feet. He washed his private parts thoroughly to remove any impurities, and then poured water over his entire body. Subsequently, he withdrew his feet [from the place of bathing] and washed them separately. This constituted his obligatory bath.

Translation: Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat

Sahih al-Bukhari 250

ʿĀʾishah (r.a) narrated: ‘The Prophet (saw) and I would both bathe from one vessel, a bowl called al-faraq.’

Translation: Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat

Sahih al-Bukhari 251

Abū Salamah said: ‘I and the brother of ʿĀʾishah (r.a) visited her, and her brother inquired about the bathing of the Prophet (saw). She requested a vessel [of water] of about one ṣāʿ, then took a bath, pouring it over her head. There was a screen between her and us [throughout her bathing].’

Abū ʿAbd Allāh [al-Bukhārī] reported: ‘Yazīd ibn Hārūn, Bahz, and al-Juddī narrated from Shuʿbah: “Of a measure equivalent to one ṣāʿ”.’

Translation: Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat

Sahih al-Bukhari 252

Abū Jaʿfar narrated that he and his father were with Jābir ibn ʿAbd Allāh, and some other people were also present. They asked him about bathing. He said: ‘One ṣāʿ [of water] should suffice for you.’ One man said: ‘It is not sufficient for me.’ Jābir replied: ‘It was sufficient for one who had more hair than you and was superior to you.’ Then he led us in Prayer wearing a thawb.

Translation: Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat

Sahih al-Bukhari 253

Ibn ʿAbbās (r.a) narrated that the Prophet (saw) and Maimūnah (r.a) would both bathe from one vessel [of water]. Yazīd ibn Hārūn and Bahz and al-Juddī added ‘of approximately one ṣāʿ’. Abū ʿAbd Allāh [al-Bukhārī] said: ‘In his later years, Ibn ʿUyainah would narrate this report as being transmitted through Ibn ʿAbbās (r.a) from Maimūnah. The authentic narration, however, is that which Abū Nuʿaim narrated.’

Translation: Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat

Sahih al-Bukhari 254

Jubair ibn Muṭʿim reported that the Messenger of Allāh (saw) said: ‘As for me, I pour [water] over my head three times,’ and he demonstrated with both his hands.

Translation: Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat

Sahih al-Bukhari 255

Jābir ibn ʿAbd Allāh narrated that the Prophet (saw) would pour [water] over his head three times [when bathing].

Translation: Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat

Sahih al-Bukhari 256

Abū Jaʿfar narrated that Jābir told me: ‘Your cousin, the son of your paternal uncle, namely al-Ḥasan ibn Muḥammad ibn al-Ḥanafiyyah came to me and asked: “How is the bath after major ritual impurity [to be performed]?” I said: “The Prophet (saw) would take three handfuls and pour them over his head, and then pour [water] over the entirety of his body.” Al-Ḥasan said to me: “I am a man with a lot of hair.” I replied: “The Prophet (saw) had more hair than you”.’

Translation: Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat

Sahih al-Bukhari 257

Ibn ʿAbbās (r.a) narrated that Maimūnah (r.a) said: ‘I placed some water for the Prophet (saw) to bathe with. He washed his hands twice or thrice, then he poured [water] on his left hand and washed his private area. Then he rubbed his hand on the earth, then he rinsed his mouth and nose and washed his face and hands and poured [water] over his body. Then he moved from his place and washed his feet.’

Translation: Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat

Sahih al-Bukhari 258

ʿĀʾishah (r.a) narrated that when the Prophet (saw) performed ghusl after major ritual impurity, he would ask for something similar to a ḥilāb. He would take it in his hand, begin with the right side of his head, then the left, and finally pour it over the centre of his head with both hands.

Translation: Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat

Sahih al-Bukhari 259

Ibn ʿAbbās (r.a) narrated that Maimūnah (r.a) said: ‘I placed some water for the Prophet (saw) to bathe with. He poured with his right hand onto his left hand and washed them. Then he washed his private area and then placed his hand onto the earth and rubbed it with the dust. Then he washed it. Then he rinsed his mouth and nose, washed his face and poured [water] over his head. Then he moved to the side and washed his feet. Then he was given a towel, but he did not wipe [himself] with it.’

Translation: Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat

Sahih al-Bukhari 260

Maimūnah (r.a) narrated that the Prophet (saw) had a mandatory bath after major ritual impurity. He washed his private parts with his hand, then rubbed his hand on the wall. Then he washed his hand and performed the wuḍūʾ as he would for Prayer. On completing the bath, he washed his feet.

Translation: Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat

Sahih al-Bukhari 261

ʿĀʾishah (r.a) narrated: ‘The Prophet (saw) and I would both bathe from a single vessel [of water]. [We would] alternately [place] our hands into the vessel.’

Translation: Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat

Sahih al-Bukhari 262

ʿĀʾishah (r.a) narrated: ‘Whenever the Messenger of Allāh (saw) performed ghusl after major ritual impurity, he would wash his hands.’

Translation: Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat

Sahih al-Bukhari 263

ʿĀʾishah (r.a) narrated: ‘The Prophet (saw) and I would both bathe from a single vessel [of water] when in a state of major ritual impurity.’

Translation: Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat

Sahih al-Bukhari 264

Anas ibn Mālik (r.a) narrated: ‘The Prophet (saw) and one of his wives would bathe from a single vessel.’ Quoting Shuʿbah, Imām Muslim (rh) and Wahb [ibn Jarīr] added the words ‘after major ritual impurity’.

Translation: Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat

Sahih al-Bukhari 265

Ibn ʿAbbās (r.a) narrated that Maimūnah (r.a) said: ‘I placed some water for the Messenger of Allāh (saw) to bathe. He poured it on his hands and washed them both twice or three times, following which he poured water with his right hand onto his left hand and washed his private area. Then, he rubbed his hand on the earth. Thereafter, he rinsed his mouth and nose; washed his face and hands and then his head three times; and then poured water over his body. Then he moved elsewhere and washed his feet.’

Translation: Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat

Sahih al-Bukhari 266

Maimūnah (r.a), daughter of al-Ḥārith, narrated: ‘I placed some water for the Messenger of Allāh (saw) for bathing and set up a screen for him. He poured [water] onto his hands and washed them once or twice.’ Sulaimān said: ‘I do not know whether a third time was mentioned or not.’ [She said]: ‘Then he poured [water] with his right hand onto his left and washed his private area. Then, he rubbed his hand against the earth or a wall, rinsed his mouth and nose, washed his face and hands and washed his head. Then he poured [water] over his body, whereafter he moved elsewhere and washed his feet. I handed him a cloth, but he shook the water off with his hand in this manner and did not want it.’

Translation: Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat

Sahih al-Bukhari 267

Muḥammad ibn al-Muntashir narrated: ‘I mentioned this to ʿĀʾishah (r.a) and she said: “May Allāh have mercy on Abū ʿAbd al-Raḥmān. I would apply perfume to the Messenger of Allāh (saw) and he would go around to each of his wives. Then, in the morning, he would enter the state of iḥrām, exuding the smell of perfume”.’

Translation: Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat