Some Recommended Ghusls
Issue No.608- There are a large number of mustaḥab ghusls in Islamic sharia. Some of them are listed below:1- Friday ghusl is one of the most important and most emphasized of all the mustaḥab ghusls. It is better not to miss it, as much as possible. Its prescribed time commences after fajr adhān to noon. If, however, a person does not perform it until noon, he can perform it until Friday afternoon, as an obligatory precaution, without the intention of neither adā (on time) nor qaḍā; rather with the intention of what is due [1] . If a person does not perform his ghusl on Friday, it is mustaḥab that he performs the missed ghusl on Saturday at any time between dawn and sunset as qaḍā. Howsever, if one knows that it will not be possible for him to obtain water on Friday for his ghusl or it is probable that he would not be able to perform it on Friday, he can perform the ghusl on Thursday with the intention of performing the ghusl beforehand.2- Ghusl of the nights of the holy month of Ramadan as follows: ghusl on the 1st night of the month and all the odd nights (e.g., the 3rd, 5th, 7th, etc.) and from the night of the 21ston, every night to the final night of the month. The time of these ghusls is the entire night, and it is better to perform the ghusl at sunset. However, from the night of 21stto the end of the month of Ramadan, it is better to perform it between maghrib and ‘ishā’ prayers. The recommended precaution is to perform the ghusls of the holy month of Ramadan and the ghusls that will be mentioned in the coming issues with the intention of hope that it might be a desirable act for almighty Allah (rajā’).3- Ghusl on Eid al-Fitr (the first day of the month of Shawwal) and Eid al-Adha (the Feast of Sacrifice). The time of these ghusls is from fajr adhān up to sunset. However, it is better to perform it before the Eid prayer.4- Ghusl on the night of Eid al-Fitr: The time of this ghusl is from maghrib adhān to fajr adhānfajr adhān, and it is better to perform it in the earlier part of the night.5- Ghusl on the 8thand 9thof the month of Dhu al-Hijjah, which are respectively called the day of Tarwīyah and the day of ‘Arafah.6- Ghusl on the 1stday of the month of Rajab, mid Rajab, the 27th(The day of Mab’ath [2] ) and the last day of Rajab.7- Ghusl on the 18thof the month of Dhū al-Hijja (Eid al-Ghadir [3] ) 8- Ghusl on the 15thof the month of Sha'ban (birthday of the 12thImam, May Allah hasten his reappearance), and ghusl on the 17th of Rabiʿ al-Awwal (birthday of the holy Prophet(ṣ) and ghusl on the Persian New Year (21 March).9- Giving ghusl to a new-born child.10- Ghusl by a woman who has perfumed herself for someone other than her husband, and ghusl by one who slept in a state of intoxication.11- Ghusl by a person who saw a person hanged. However, if he unintentionally saw him, or if he had gone there for an urgent purpose, for example to testify, ghusl is not mustaḥab for him.12- Ghusl for repentance: that is when one commits a sin and repents, it is mustaḥab for him to do ghusl thereafter.
