| Need to perform ghusl while travelling |
Question:
I will be travelling in a few days by road. I will be on the road for 16 days, (journey to Gaza). I’m in my early 20s and occasionally need to make ghusl (for wet dreams). As I will be travelling in a convoy in a van with other people, if there is a need to make ghusl how do I do it. Because it will be hard to stop somewhere and have a shower in private and obviously my clothes will be impure. So could you please give me some information on this? Answer:
You must (wajib) make arrangements to do ghusl when the need arises and have pure clothes to offer prayers in. I would suggest that you keep a separate set of clothes for sleeping in. Furthermore, if you keep in view the following rulings of the Shariah, the journey should not be too difficult for you, inshallah: [1] If there is filth on your clothes (e.g. mani, madhi or urine) you do not have to wash the whole garment, but may just wash the affected area. Even if you do not know exactly where the filth may be, wash that part which your best opinion tells you is affected and that will suffice in making the garment acceptable for worshipping in. The method of washing is to take the part of the cloth that is impure and grasp it in the hand in such a manner that the impure section sticks out from between the thumb and index finger in the grasp. Then soak it with water and ring it, this will be done three times. [2] Many people do not realise that Ghusl does not require much effort. In fact a proper ghusl can be done in two-three minutes. For the Shariah only requires for the person who needs to do Ghusl to first wash off the body any impurity. Secondly, to, having washed hands, gargle the mouth with water and sniff water into the nose like is done in Wudu and thirdly, to pour water over the whole body without leaving anything dry, which can be done using three bowls of water. This is all that is needed. The person will pour one bowl over the middle of his head, the second on his right side and the third on the left side. Then to ensure the water reaches everywhere he will rub his body with his hands. Note, it is Sunna to start the Ghusl with Bismillah and also do Wudu at the start, which if done, will mean you will not have to wash the mouth and nose again separately. Hence as you can see, ghusl should not be difficult and to ensure you can do it, you should keep a large flask with you of warm water just in case you need it. Though, if you are travelling with Muslims, the organisers should facilitate stop-offs and breaks at appropriate places where these religious needs can be fulfilled. [3] Also remember as you are a traveller you do not need to pray the Sunnas, though if you find you have the time you may do so. You may join between Salahs by delaying one Salah to its end time and offering it and then waiting a little, to allow the next prayer time to start, and offer the Fard of the next Salah. Praying one prayer in the time of another Salah is not permitted. Similarly, it is wajib to shorten all Four Rakaah prayers to two, unless you are praying behind an Imam who is Muqeem and is praying Four Rakaahs.
Mufti Mohammed Sajjad Wallahu Aalam bis-sawab Please remember us in your Duas... The answer to this question is the opinion of the scholar and does not reflect the opinion of other scholars of As-Suffa Institute and As-Suffa Institute as an organisation. |
