‘A'isha said that when God’s messenger washed because of a seminal emission he first washed his hands, then performed ablution as he did for prayer, then put his fingers into the water and moved them through the roots of his hair, then poured three handfuls on his head with both hands, then poured the water over all his skin. (Bukhari and Muslim.) In a version by Muslim he first washed his hands before putting them into the vessel, then poured water over his left hand with his right hand, then washed his private parts, after which he performed ablution.
Purification: The Complete Ritual Bath (Ghusl)
This narration from the Mother of the Believers, 'A'isha (may Allah be pleased with her), details the precise method of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) when performing the major ritual purification (ghusl) following seminal emission. The meticulous description serves as a comprehensive guide for Muslims, ensuring the validity and completeness of this essential act of worship.
Scholarly Commentary on the Procedure
The scholars, including Imam an-Nawawi in his commentary on Sahih Muslim, emphasize that the initial washing of the hands three times is a stressed Sunnah (recommended practice) to cleanse them from any impurity before they are used for the rest of the purification. This act demonstrates the profound importance of beginning acts of worship with physical and spiritual cleanliness.
The instruction to perform an ablution (wudu) like that for prayer before washing the entire body is a key distinction of this type of ghusl. This ensures that the areas covered in the minor ablution are purified first. The subsequent action of running wet fingers through the roots of the hair ensures that water reaches the scalp, which is a fundamental condition for the ghusl's validity.
Pouring three handfuls of water over the head fulfills the obligation of washing the head. The final and most comprehensive step is to pour water over the entire body, ensuring that no part of the skin, from the head to the feet, is left dry. The scholars state that this must be done in a manner where the water flows over every part, leaving no area untouched.
Reconciling the Two Narrations
The second version from Muslim, which mentions washing the private parts after the initial hand washing, is not a contradiction. The scholars of hadith, such as Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani in Fath al-Bari, explain that these are descriptions of the same event from different perspectives. The Prophet (peace be upon him) may have washed his hands, then his private parts to remove the physical trace of impurity, and then proceeded with the formal ablution (wudu) for prayer as described in the first narration. Both sequences are valid and complementary, teaching us flexibility within the Prophetic guidance.
Legal Ruling and Spiritual Significance
The ruling derived from this hadith, as mentioned in classical texts like "Mishkat al-Masabih 435", is that the method described is the complete and preferred (mustahabb) way to perform ghusl. While the absolute minimum requirement is to ensure water reaches every part of the body, following the Prophet's detailed method earns greater reward. This practice transforms a physical cleansing into an act of worship and emulation of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), purifying the believer both outwardly and inwardly.