State of Janabah: Permissible to Sleep, Fast & Work Without Ghusl
Is it permissible for men and women to sleep or fast without performing Ghusl (ritual bath) while in a state of Janabah (ritual impurity)? And is it a sin for a woman in Janabah to do household chores or breastfeed her child, etc., without performing Ghusl?
Alhamdulillah (All praise is due to Allah)..!!
Due to a lack of knowledge, people in a state of Janabah consider themselves, their clothes, and their beds to be impure (napak). They avoid touching food or doing chores until they have performed Ghusl. Women also consider breastfeeding children or touching food to be a sin, thinking they are impure. Some women believe kneading dough without Ghusl will result in a lack of blessings (barakah), etc. However, the Shari’ah of Muhammad (peace be upon him) rejects this ignorance.
For a man or woman in Janabah, only Salah (prayer), Tawaf (circumambulation of the Kaaba), and staying in the mosque are forbidden (haram). Apart from these, all other activities are permissible.
Therefore, there is no harm for a man or woman to carry out their normal routine chores while in Janabah. It is permissible to eat Suhoor (pre-dawn meal) to fast, prepare food, or handle other household tasks. Similarly, a mother can breastfeed her children and take care of them. There are several proofs for this.
Proof 1: A Muslim Does Not Become Physically Impure
Hudhayfah (May Allah be pleased with him) narrated that:
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) met him and extended his hand (for a handshake) towards him. Hudhayfah said: “I am Junub (in a state of Janabah).”
Upon this, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:
“A Muslim does not become impure (Najis).”
(Sunan Abi Dawud, Hadith No_230)
Abu Hurayrah (May Allah be pleased with him) narrated that:
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) met him on one of the streets of Madinah while he (Abu Hurayrah) was in a state of Janabah.1
He slipped away and went to perform Ghusl, then returned to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him).
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) asked:
“O Abu Hurayrah, where were you?”
Abu Hurayrah (May Allah be pleased with him) said: “I was Junub, and I disliked sitting with you while I was not in a state of purity.”
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:
“سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ، إِنَّ الْمُسْلِمَ لَا يَنْجُسُ””.
(Subhan’Allah! The Muslim never becomes impure).”
(Sahih Bukhari Hadith No_ 283)
(Sahih Muslim Hadith No_ 371)
(Sunan Abi Dawud, Hadith No_231)
Meaning, the impurity (najasah) of the state of Janabah is Hukmi (ritual/legal) and not Hissi (physical).
Therefore, sitting somewhere while Junub does not make the place impure (najis), nor does shaking hands make the other person’s hand impure, nor does cooking food make the food contaminated.
Hafiz Ibn Hajar (May Allah have mercy on him) says in Fath al-Bari:
“This hadith provides proof for the permissibility of delaying Ghusl Janabah from the beginning of its obligatory time… and it is also permissible for the Junub person to fulfill their needs.”
(See Fath al-Bari by Ibn Hajar_ 1 / 391)
Proof 2: Permissibility of Sleeping and Fasting in Janabah
The Mother of the Believers, Aisha (May Allah be pleased with her), said that:
The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) would be Junub,
and would sleep without touching water, then he would get up after that and perform Ghusl.
(Sunan al-Tirmidhi, Hadith No_118)
(Sunan Abi Dawud, Hadith No_228)
(Musnad Ahmad, Hadith No_24161)
Based on supporting evidence, this hadith is Sahih (authentic).
And this hadith is proof for the permissibility of sleeping without Ghusl or Wudu.
Meaning, if someone wants to sleep without Ghusl or Wudu, they can, and they will not be sinful..!
Abu Bakr bin ‘Abdur-Rahman said:
My father ‘Abdur-Rahman took me
to Aisha (May Allah be pleased with her).
Aisha (May Allah be pleased with her) said that:
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) used to be in a state of Janabah in the morning,
not due to a wet dream but due to intercourse (with his wives)!
Then he would fast (meaning he performed Ghusl after the time for Suhoor had passed, before the Fajr prayer).
(Sahih Bukhari, Hadith No_1931)
(Musnad Ahmad, Hadith No_24062)
Nafi’ said:
I asked the Mother of the Believers, Umm Salamah (May Allah be pleased with her), about a person who wakes up in a state of Janabah in the morning and wants to fast. She said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) would wake up in the morning in a state of Janabah,2
and his Janabah was from intercourse, not a wet dream, then he would perform Ghusl and complete his fast.
(Sunan Ibn Majah, Hadith No_1704)
(Meaning, he started the fast in a state of Janabah and still completed it.)
Abu Bakr Siddiq (May Allah be pleased with him) narrated that:
Marwan sent him to Umm Salamah (May Allah be pleased with her) to ask about a man who wakes up in the morning in a state of Janabah, can he fast? Umm Salamah (May Allah be pleased with her) replied that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) would wake up in the morning in a state of Janabah due to intercourse, not a wet dream, then he would not break his fast nor make it up later.
(Sahih Muslim, Hadith No_1109)
Aisha (May Allah be pleased with her) narrated:
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) would spend the night in a state of Janabah. Bilal (May Allah be pleased with him) would come to him and inform him about the prayer. He would then get up and perform Ghusl, and I would see the water dripping from his head. Then he would go out, and I would hear his voice in the Fajr prayer. Mutarrif said: I asked ‘Amir: “Was this in Ramadan?” He said: “Ramadan and non-Ramadan were all the same.”
(Sunan Ibn Majah, Hadith No_1703)
Abu Hurayrah (May Allah be pleased with him) narrated that:
(Once) the Iqamah for the prayer was called and the people formed their rows.
The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) came out. When he stood in his place (at the Musalla), he remembered that he had not performed Ghusl. He said to the people: “Stay in your places.” Then he returned to his house and came back to us. Water was dripping from his head, as he had performed Ghusl, while we were still standing in our rows.
(Sunan Abi Dawud, Hadith No_235, 234, 233)
Meaning, after becoming Junub and before the prayer, he (the Prophet) continued to do his daily tasks without Ghusl.
From these blessed Hadiths, it is proven that fasting, sleeping, eating, drinking, and doing chores while in a state of Janabah are all permissible.
Addressing a Common Objection
Here, some people might object that this was specific to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). They should observe this Hadith..!!
Aisha Siddiqah (May Allah be pleased with her) narrated:
A man came to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) to ask a question, and she was listening from behind the door.
The man said: “O Messenger of Allah,
the time for prayer comes while I am Junub, so can I fast at that time?”
The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) replied:
“I also wake up in a state of Janabah when the time for prayer comes,
and I fast.”
The man said:
“O Messenger of Allah!
You are not like us. Allah has forgiven your past and future sins.”
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:
“By Allah, I hope that I am the most fearful of Allah among you, and I know best among you what I must guard against.”
(Sahih Muslim, Book of Fasting, Hadith No_1110)
In one narration, it is mentioned that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) became angry at the man’s statement and said: “By Allah! I hope that I am the most fearful of Allah among all of you, and I know better than you what I must do.”
(Sunan Abi Dawud, Hadith No_2389)
The Preferable (Mustahabb) Action: Performing Wudu
However, it is preferable (Afdal) for the Junub person to hasten to perform Ghusl Janabah, lest they forget to perform Ghusl. Also, the angels (of mercy) do not come near a Junub person. And if they perform Wudu (ablution) before eating, drinking, or sleeping while in Janabah, it is better and preferable. But it should be remembered that this Wudu is not obligatory (Wajib); rather, it is to reduce the state of Janabah. Meaning, when they perform Wudu, they will also wash their hands and private parts.
Performing Wudu is Mustahabb (recommended), and there are some Hadiths regarding this.4
Aisha (May Allah be pleased with her) narrated that:
When the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) wanted to eat or sleep while in a state of Janabah, he would perform Wudu like the Wudu for prayer.
(Sahih Muslim, Hadith No_ 305)
In one narration, it is stated..!
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:
“There are three types of people whom the angels do not approach: the corpse of a disbeliever, one who uses khaluq (a type of perfume mixed with saffron), and the Junub person until he performs Wudu.”6
(Sunan Abi Dawud Hadith No_4180)
Allama Albani (May Allah have mercy on him) classified it as Hasan (good) in Sahih Abi Dawud Hadith No (3522).
Ibn ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with them) narrated that:
‘Umar bin Al-Khattab (May Allah be pleased with him) asked the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him): “Can one of us sleep while he is Junub?”
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) replied:
“Yes, when one of you performs Wudu, he can sleep while Junub.”
(Sahih Bukhari Hadith No_ 287)
(Sahih Muslim Hadith No_ 306)
Imam Nawawi (May Allah have mercy on him) states:
“This hadith indicates the recommendation (istihbab) for the Junub person to wash their private parts and perform Wudu for all these activities.7 Especially when he intends to have intercourse with his other wife, whom he has not yet been with, it is definitely recommended (mustahabb) to wash his private organ.
In our view, there is no disagreement that this Wudu is not obligatory (wajib). This is also the view of Imam Malik and the majority of scholars.”
(See: Sharh Muslim by Al-Nawawi_ 3 / 217)
Conclusion
From all these blessed Hadiths, it is clear that sleeping, eating, having Suhoor, etc., without Ghusl is permissible. However, performing Ghusl is much better, or at least, one should perform Wudu until they perform Ghusl. Performing this Wudu is better, not obligatory (wajib).
(And Allah Ta’ala knows best what is correct.)
Reference: https://alfurqan.info/problems/241
