Is the ritual bath (Ghusl) or ablution (Wudu) valid if a Junub (person in a state of major impurity) submerges themselves in abundant water or washes their limbs in abundant water without the intention (Niyyah) for the ritual washing of hands from the sleep of the night?

Chapter on Siwak and the Sunnah of Wudu

Al-Mughni

Book of Purification

Book 2 · Issue 1 · Bab 4

Open in Qurani

Primary text

The ritual bath (Ghusl) and the ablution (Wudu) are valid even if a person in a state of major ritual impurity (Junub) submerges themselves in abundant water or washes their limbs in abundant water without intending to fulfill the specific requirement of washing the hands due to nocturnal sleep. This is because the mere presence of physical impurity (Najasah) on a limb does not prevent the removal of ritual impurity (Hadath). If a person washes their nose or hand during Wudu while it is physically impure, the minor ritual impurity is still removed. Likewise, the residual state of a minor ritual impurity does not prevent the removal of another ritual impurity.

Supporting text

The validity of the initial act (Ghusl or Wudu) without the specific intention for washing the hands from the sleep of the night does not suffice as fulfillment of that specific obligation for those scholars who mandate the intention for washing the hands from nocturnal sleep.