Invalidating Prayers Due to Janābah: Ruling on Bathing without Intention

What Happens if You Forget to Perform Ghusl after Intercourse?

Bathing without the intention of uplifting Janābah  

Question: A man says he had intercourse with his wife during the daytime on Friday and then fell asleep. When he woke up, he forgot that he was in a state of janābah (major ritual impurity). He took a bath only with the intention of the Friday bath. What is the ruling?

Sheikh ’Abdulḥamīd Az-Zu’kari ḥafidhahullāh:

He must repeat the ghusl and repeat any prayers he performed without being in a state of purity. The prayers he performed while in a state of janābah are invalid. 

The Prophet ﷺ said: 

((لا يقبل الله صلاة أحدكم إذا أحدث حتى يتوضأ)) 

“Allāh does not accept the prayer of any of you if he is in a state of impurity until he performs ablution.” 

The Prophet ﷺ also said:

((لا يقبل الله صلاة بغير طهور)) 

“Allāh does not accept prayer without purification.” 

Therefore, his prayers are invalid, although he is not sinful, as he acted out of forgetfulness. As Allāh says:

{رَبَّنَا لَا تُؤَاخِذۡنَاۤ إِن نَّسِینَاۤ أَوۡ أَخۡطَأۡنَاۚ}

“Our Lord, do not take us to task if we forget or make a mistake.” [Sūrah Al-Baqarah: 286]

However, he is required to perform ghusl for janābah and then make up the missed prayers. With the Friday prayer, he should pray Dhuhr instead, and likewise for the subsequent prayers until he has made up all the prayers he missed.