What to Do If You Can't Do Ghusl? Read This!

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Hi all readers! Are you looking for an explanation of “what to do if you can't do ghusl?”? If your answer is “Yes”, congratulations! Now you are reading the right article. Why? Because that is what I will explain in this article. As Muslims, we must understand that. That's why I wrote this article. So, you should read it to the end!

Specifically, there are five key points about “what to do if you can't do ghusl?” which I will explain in this article. The five important things I mean are as follows:

Why Is Ghusl Important for Muslims?

The first important thing about “what to do if you can't do ghusl?” what I will explain now is "why is ghusl important for Muslims?". I want you to understand that first before you read more explanations in this article so that you can understand the urgency of our discussion now.

In general, in Islam, there are three types of ghusl:

Regular ghusl

What is meant by ordinary ghusl is ghusl which is done to cleanse the body.

Ghusl sunnah (recommended ghusl)

What is meant by ghusl sunnah is ghusl that is recommended for Muslims, such as ghusl before Friday prayers for male Muslims.

Compulsory ghusl

What is meant by compulsory ghusl is ghusl that Muslims must do for several reasons. The goal is to remove the big hadas. Another term for compulsory ghusl is ghusl Janabah.

But what is meant by ghusl in our discussion now is compulsory ghusl or ghusl Janabah. I will not go into detail about the other two types of ghusl now: the regular ghusl and the sunnah ghusl.

So, compulsory ghusl or ghusl Janabah is ghusl that is done to eliminate major hadas. Big Hadas is a condition that causes Muslims not to do some things that require them to be in a holy condition, such as Tawaf, touching the Quran, praying, and so on.

In other words, ghusl is very important for Muslims to remove the big hadas so that they can do these things. So, if you ask me, "Why is ghusl compulsory for Muslims?", then that's the answer.

That is a brief explanation of "why ghusl is compulsory for Muslims?". As Muslims, we must understand that.

When Is Ghusl Compulsory for Muslims?

The second important thing about “what to do if you can't do ghusl?” what I will explain now is "when is ghusl compulsory for Muslims?". I want you to understand that so that you have a complete understanding of our discussion.

In general, as I explained earlier, that compulsory ghusl or ghusl Janabah is done to eliminate major hadas. In other words, when Muslims have a big hadas, then they have to do compulsory ghusl or ghusl Janabah. That is the answer if you ask me, "When is ghusl compulsory for Muslims?".

But there are some differences about what causes male Muslims and female Muslims to have big hadas. The explanation is as follows:

The Cause of Big Hadas for Male Muslims

If we read some of the Islamic legal literature on big hadas, then we will find that the things that cause male Muslims to have big hadas are as follows:

Sex

Sex is one of the things that causes male Muslims to have a big hadas. We can find this explanation in the hadith below:

عَنْ أَبِيْ هُرَيْرَةَ رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ : قَالَ رَسُوْلُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ : إِذَا جَلَسَ بَيْنَ شُعَبِهَا الْأَرْبَعٍ ثُمَّ جَهَدَهَا فَقَدْ وَجَبَ الْغُسْلُ . مُتَّفَقٌ عَلَيْهِ . وَزَادَ مُسْلِمٌ : وَإنْ لَمْ يَنْزِلْ

From Abu Hurairah radliyallahu anhu, he said, "The Messenger of Allah sallallahu alaihi wa sallam has said, "If someone has sat between her four branches, then he burdens her, then he must take a shower. " This hadith was narrated by al-Bukhari and Muslim. Muslim add the hadith editorial, "Even though he doesn't come out his sperm."

Releasing sperm

Releasing sperm is one of the things that causes male Muslim to have a big hadas. Some examples of actions that can release sperm are wet dreams and masturbation. We can find this explanation in the hadith below:

عَنْ أَنَسٍ رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ : قَالَ رَسُوْلُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ : فِيْ الْمَرْأَةِ تَرَى فِيْ مَنَامِهَا مَا يَرَى الرَّجُلُ -- قَالَ : تَغْتَسِلْ . مُتَّفَقٌ عَلَيْهِ . زَادَ مُسْلِمٌ : فَقَالَتْ أُمُّ سَلَمَةَ : وَهَلْ يَكُوْنُ هَذَا ؟ قَالَ : نَعَمْ , فَمِنْ أَيْنَ الشِّبْهُ

From Anas radliyalaahu anhu, he said, "Allah's Messenger sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam has said (about women who dream of seeing something seen by men in his dream him), "She must take a bath." The hadith is narrated by al-Bukhari and Muslim. Muslim added the editor of the hadith, "Um Salamah then asked, "And is this there?" He (Prophet Muhammad) replied, "Yes. Then where is that similarity?"

The Cause of Big Hadas for Muslim Women

If we read some Islamic legal literacies about the big hadas, then we will find that the things that cause Muslim women to have big hadas are as follows:

Sex

The explanation that sex is one of the things that causes Muslim women to have a big hadas is the same as the explanation in the context of male Muslims. So, I will not explain that again here.

Releasing sperm

The explanation that releasing sperm is one of the things that causes female Muslims to have a big hadas is the same as the explanation in the context of male Muslims. So, I will not explain that again here.

Menstruation

Menstruation is one of the things that causes Muslim women to have a big hadas. We can find this explanation in the hadith below:

قَالَ رَسُوْلُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ : إِذَا أقْبَلَتِ الحَيْضَةُ، فَدَعِي الصَّلَاةَ، وإذَا أدْبَرَتْ، فَاغْسِلِي عَنْكِ الدَّمَ وصَلِّي

Allah's Messenger (Prophet Muhammad) sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said, "If menstruation has come, then do not pray. If it (menstruation) has gone, then clean the menstrual blood and pray."

Nifas

Nifas is one of the things that causes Muslim women to have a big hadas. We can find this explanation in the opinion of Imam an-Nawawi, one of the experts in Islamic law from Indonesia, below:

لِأَنَّ الْغُسْلَ يَجِبُ بِخُرُوْجِ الْمَاءِ الَّذِيْ يُخْلَقُ مِنْهُ الْوَلَدُ، فَبِخُرُوْجِ الْوَلَدِ أَوْلَى

Because, really ghusl is compulsory with the cause of the release of water (sperm) that babies are created from, then with the birth of a child (the obligation to bathe) it is more important (because of ghusl).

That is a brief explanation of "when is ghusl compulsory for Muslims?". As a Muslim, you have to understand that.

What to Do If You Can't Do Ghusl?

The third important thing about “what to do if you can't do ghusl?” what I'm going to explain now is “what to do if you can't do ghusl?”. I want you to understand that because in some cases some Muslims cannot do ghusl when they have big hadas.

Before I explain more about “what to do if you can't do ghusl?”, I want to explain that generally there are three things that cause Muslims to not be able to do ghusl:

• Very cold weather.
• Sick.
• No water for ghusl.

Those are three things that generally cause Muslims to not be able to do ghusl to eliminate major hadas. Under these conditions, they are required to perform Tayammum.

So if you ask me "What to do if you can't do ghusl?", then the answer is Tayammum."

That's a brief explanation of “what to do if you can't do ghusl?”. As Muslims, we must understand that.

What Is Tayammum in Islam?

The fourth important thing about “what to do if you can't do ghusl?” what I will explain now is "what is Tayammum in Islam?". I want you to understand that because it is the only solution for Muslims who cannot do ghusl.

If we read Islamic legal literacy, we will find an explanation that Tayammum is purifying the body from minor hadas and major hadas with holy sand or dust.

So, if you cannot perform wudu to remove minor hadas, such as if you have urinated or farted, or if you cannot perform ghusl to remove major hadas, because of illness, or the weather is very cold, or there is no water, then you should do Tayammum.

We can find an explanation of Tayammum in the hadith below:

عَنْ جَابِرٍ رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ ؛ أُعْطِيْتُ خَمْسًا لَمْ يُعْطَهُنَّ أحَدٌ قَبْلِي: نُصِرْتُ بالرُّعْبِ مَسِيْرَةَ شَهْرٍ ، وَجُعِلَتْ لِيْ الأَرْضُ مَسْجِدًا وَطَهُوْرًا ، فَأَيُّمُا رَجُلٍ مِنْ أُمَّتِيْ أَدْرَكَتْهُ الصَّلَاةُ فَلْيُصَلِّ ، وَأُحِلَّتْ لِيْ المَغَانِمُ وَلَمْ تَحِلَّ لِأَحَدٍ قَبْلِيْ ، وَأُعْطِيْتُ الشَّفَاعَةَ ، وَكَانَ النَّبِيُّ يُبْعَثُ إِلَى قَوْمِهِ خَاصَّةً وَبُعِثْتُ إِلَى النَّاسِ عَامَّةً

From Jabir radliyallaahu anhu, that the Prophet (Muhammad) sallallahu alayhi wa sallam had said, “I have been given five things which were not given to any prophet before me; I have been helped by fear throughout the journey of a month, the earth has been made a holy place of prostration for me, so when the time has come to pray to someone, then let him pray. The spoils of war were made lawful for me and not for any prophet before me, I was given the right to intercede, the Prophets were sent only to their people while I was sent to all mankind."

That's a brief explanation of "what is Tayammum in Islam?". As a Muslim, you have to understand that.

How Did You Do Tayammum?

The fifth important thing about “what to do if you can't do ghusl?” what I will explain now is “how do you do Tayammum?”. I want you to understand that so that you understand what you have to do if you do Tayammum.

In general, we can find an explanation of “how did you do Tayammum?” in the hadith below:

عَنْ عَمَّارٍ بْنِ يَاسِرٍ رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ : بَعَثَنِيْ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فِيْ حَاجَةٍ . فَأَجْنَبْتُ فَلَمْ أَجِدْ الْمَاءَ . فَتَمَرَّغْتُ فِيْ الصَّعِيْدِ كمَاَ تَتَمَرَّعُ الدَّابَةُ . ثُمَّ أَتَيْتُ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَذَكَرْتُ لَهُ ذَلِكَ ، فَقَالَ : إِنَّمَا يَكْفِيْكَ أَنْ تَقُوْلَ بِيَدَيْكَ هَكَذَا . ثُمَّ ضَرَبَ بِيَدَيْهِ الْأَرْضَ ضَرْبَةً وَاحِدَةً ، ثُمَّ مَسَحَ الشِّمَالَ عَلَى الْيَمِيْنِ وَظَاهِرَ كَفَّيْهِ وَوَجْهِهِ . مُتَّفَقٌ عَلَيْهِ

From 'Ammar bin Yasir radliyallahu anhuma, he said, "The Prophet (Muhammad) sallallahu alayhi wa sallam has sent for a purpose. I then had junub (large hadas) and found no water. I then rolled on the high ground like an animal. Then I went to the Prophet (Muhammad) sallallahu alayhi wa sallam and told him about it. He then said, "Indeed, it is enough for you to do this with both your hands." Then he clapped his hands on the earth once. Then he rubbed his left hand over his right hand, the outside of his palm, and his face." The hadith was narrated by al-Bukhari and Muslim.

وَفِيْ رِوَايَةِ الْبُخَارِيِّ ؛ وَضَرَبَ بِكَفَّيْهِ الْأَرْضَ وَنَفَخَ فِيْهِمَا ثُمَّ مَسَحَ بِهِمَا وَجْهَهُ وَكَفَّيْهِ

In the narration of al-Bukhari explained, "And he clapped his hands on the earth and then blew (the dust) that was in his two palms. Then he wiped his face and his palms with his two palms."

So, if we understand the above two hadiths and some other explanations about it, then we can conclude that there are three things that must be done by Muslims who are going to perform Tayammum:

• Get holy dust or sand.
• Rubbing two palms on the dust or sand, then rubbing the two palms on the face and and two hands up to the elbows.
• Recite the prayer for Tayammum. The prayer for Tayammum is as follows:

نَوَيْتُ التَّيَمُّمَ لِإِسْتِبَاحَةِ الصَّلَاةِ فَرْضًا لِلَّهِ تَعَالَى

I intend to perform Tayammum to perform the prayer, as an obligation, because of Allah the Exalted.

That's a brief explanation of "how do you do Tayammum?". As Muslims, we must understand that.

That's a brief explanation of “what to do if you can't do ghusl?”. Do you understand? If you want to ask, please ask.

I think that's enough for this article. May be useful. Amen.

See you again in the next article!