Do I Have to Repeat All the Prayers for Which I Didn’t Wash My Nose During the Ritual Bath?

Answered by Ustadh Tabraze Azam

Question: As salam alaikum

For years I have performed the ritual bath (ghusl) during fasting without washing the inside of my nose. Do I have to repeat all my prayers prayed in this way?

Answer:Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullah,

The Shafi`i school deems the bath (ghusl) of somebody who does not wash the nose as valid. Accordingly, you can consider your past practice sound. However, if you have the resolve and aspiration, the way of piety and praiseworthy caution would be to repeat these prayers.

Practically, and by way of example, if you performed the bath for Fajr, without washing your nose, and then proceeded to wash your nose during the ablution (wudu) for Zuhr, then you would only have a single prayer to make up for that day, namely Fajr. Apply this to all the scenarios and you may find that you only have a handful of prayers to make up.

Please also see: A Reader on Missed Prayers

And Allah Most High alone knows best.

wassalam,
[Ustadh] Tabraze Azam

Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Ustadh Tabraze Azam was born and raised in Ipswich, England, a quiet town close to the east coast of England. His journey for seeking sacred knowledge began when he privately memorized the entire Qur’an in his hometown at the age of 16. He also had his first experience in leading the tarawih (nightly-Ramadan) prayers at his local mosque. Year after year he would continue this unique return to reciting the entire Quran in one blessed month both in his homeland, the UK, and also in the blessed lands of Shaam, where he now lives, studies and teaches.