Is Bathing During Postpartum (Nifas) Five Times a Religious Obligation?

Debunking Myths: The Truth About Postpartum Bathing Practices (Chhathi & Chilla) in Islam

Question: It has become common among people that a woman in postpartum (nifas) is bathed with water five times during the forty days, known as “Chhathi” and “Chilla,” as if it is obligatory. Even if some women do not bleed for the full forty days, they still refrain from worship and only resume after forty days, bathing both the mother and the child. Is there any truth to this practice?

Answer: Just like menstruation (hayd), postpartum bleeding (nifas) is a state of impurity. Bathing in this state does not remove the impurity, but a woman can bathe for freshness and cleanliness. There is no harm in this.

Regarding the practice of bathing a woman five times during nifas under the names “Chhathi” or “Chilla,” this is not established in Shariah. This practice is due to ignorance and lack of religious knowledge in society. The Shariah ruling on bathing during nifas is that a woman should perform the purification bath (ghusl) and start praying as soon as she becomes pure, even if it is before forty days. It is possible for some women to bleed for the full forty days, as the maximum duration of nifas is forty days. Such women should wait for forty days and then perform the purification bath and start praying.

Some women in society believe that they must wait for forty days during nifas, even if the bleeding stops earlier. This belief is against Shariah. Shariah instructs that a woman should perform the purification bath and start praying as soon as she becomes pure.

There is no connection between the newborn and the fortieth day, nor is there any connection between the newborn and ablution (wudu). Therefore, the practice of bathing the newborn and performing ablution on the fortieth day is also due to ignorance and lack of religious knowledge. According to Shariah, the newborn should be bathed on the seventh day, and after that, you can bathe the child whenever you wish, but there is no connection with the fortieth day.

 Sheikh Maqbool Ahmed Salafi (May Allah protect him)

❪Jeddah Dawah Center, Hayy Al-Salamah – Saudi Arabia❫