Can I Wash with Soap Before Performing the Steps of Ghusl?

Answered by Ustadh Sufyan Qufi

Question

1. Can I wash with shampoo and soap before performing the three obligatory steps of ghusl, and does the sequence of these steps matter, including when to wash private parts and remove impurities?

2. Also, is it required to use a specific hand to rinse the nose and mouth, or is it optional?

Answer

In the name of Allah, the Most Compassionate, Most Merciful,

I pray this finds you in the best of states.

1. Yes, it is permissible to first wash yourself using shampoo and soap before performing a proper ritual bath (Ghusl). [Shurunbulali, Nur al-Idah]

It is sunna to first wash your hands, then remove any filth on your body and wash your private parts. Then it is sunna to perform wudu. Then you wash your body fully. [Shurunbulali, Nur al-Idah]

Your ghusl will be valid even if you don’t follow this order. But, because this order has been followed by the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) on a regular basis, it can be sinful to leave it without excuse. [Shurunbulali, Maraqi al-Falah]

2. It is sunna to wash the mouth and the nose by using water scooped with your right hand. [Tahtawi, Hashiya ‘ala Maraqi al-Falah]

Sayyida ‘Aisha (Allah be pleased with her) has said: “The right hand of the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) was for his purification and food, and his left hand was for using the toilet and anything dirty.” [Abu Dawud]

And Allah knows best.

Wassalam
[Ustadh] Sufyan Qufi
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat 

Ustadh Sufyan Qufi is an advanced seeker of knowledge, originally from Algeria, who grew up in France. He began searching far and wide for answers to the fundamental questions of life and was disappointed at the answers he found. Then he connected with various traditional teachers and gradually connected with SeekersGuidance. He embarked on his journey of learning through the various teachers at SeekersGuidance, including his mentor Shaykh Faraz Rabbani. He studied numerous texts in Islamic Law, Theology, Hadith, and other areas with Shaykh Faraz Rabbani and other teachers, including Shaykh Abdurrahman al-Sha‘ar, Shaykh Ali Hani, and others. He is an active instructor at SeekersGuidance and answers questions through the SeekersGuidance Answers Service.