How to Bathe After Sex in Islam? A Comprehensive Guide

How to bathe after sex in Islam? ~ In Islam, sex is one of the actions that results in a major state of hadas (impurity). Major hadas is a condition that prevents a Muslim from performing acts of worship that require a state of purity, such as praying, holding the Quran, Tawaf, and so on. Therefore, if a Muslim engages in sexual relations, they are required to cleanse themselves of this major hadas.

In Islam, the major hadas that a Muslim experiences can be removed by performing a Janabah bath. That is why the Janabah bath is an important ritual in Islam that a Muslim must undertake after experiencing major hadas. Generally, Muslims understand the Janabah bath as the "bath after sex according to Islam." While this is correct, the concept of the Janabah bath encompasses more than just that. It can be understood as a bath to remove major hadas.

In this article, I will explain some important points about "How to bathe after sex in Islam." The key points I will discuss are as follows:

What Is Bath After Sex According to Islam Specifically?

The first important point about "How to bathe after sex in Islam" that I will explain is, "What is bath after sex according to Islam specifically?" It is crucial to understand this as it forms the basis of our discussion.

In the previous paragraphs, I mentioned that bathing after sex according to Islam is a Janabah bath, which aims to remove major hadas. In Islamic teachings, hadas (both major and minor) prevents a Muslim from fulfilling certain obligations, such as prayer. This is why it is essential to remove hadas.

Read Also: Top 6 Methods for Burying a Cat in Islam

In Islamic teachings, major hadas can only be purified through a Janabah bath. If a Muslim who has major hadas performs a Janabah bath (the bath after sex), they are allowed to engage in acts that require them to be in a state of purity, such as praying and reading the Quran. For this reason, the Janabah bath or bath after sex according to Islam is obligatory for Muslims who have had sexual relations or who are in a state of major hadas.

So, if you ask, "What is bath after sex according to Islam specifically?", the answer is that it is a bath that must be performed by Muslims who have engaged in sexual relations to remove the major hadas.

That is the general explanation of bath after sex according to Islam, or Janabah bath. As Muslims, we must understand this.

How to Bathe After Sex in Islam?

The second important point about "How to bathe after sex in Islam" what I will explain now is a specific explanation. I want you to understand this so you know what to do if you want to take a bath after sex or perform a Janabah bath.

In general, the bath after sex according to Islam must involve washing the entire body, from the hair to the soles of the feet. Every inch of the skin must be washed. One important thing that should not be forgotten before a Muslim takes a bath after sex or a Janabah bath is to recite the appropriate prayer. I will explain that at the end of this discussion.

We can find an explanation that all the skin of the body must be washed when performing the bath after sex or the Janabah bath in the following hadiths:

عَنْ عَلِيٍّ بْنِ أَبِيْ طَالِبٍ رَضِيَ اللهُ قَالَ رَسُوْلُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ : مَنْ تَرَكَ مَوْضِعَ شَعْرَةٍ مِنْ جَنَابَةٍ فُعِلَ بِهَا كَذَا وَكَذَا فِيْ النَّارِ

From Ali ibn Abi Talib radliyallaahu anhu, "Allah's Messenger sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam said, 'Whoever leaves even a single hair unwashed from janabah will be punished in Hell.'"

عَنْ عَائِشَةَ رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُمَا قَالَتْ : كَانَ رَسُوْلُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ إِذَا اغْتَسَلَ مِنَ الْجَنَابَةِ يَبْدَأُ فَيَغْسِلَ يَدَيْهِ ثُمَّ يَفْرُغُ بِيَمِيْنِهِ عَلَى شِمَالِهِ فَيَغْسِلَ فَرْجَهُ ، ثُمَّ يَتَوَضَّأُ ، ثُمَّ يَأْخُذُ الْمَاءَ فَيُدْخِلُ أَصَابِعَهُ فِيْ أُصُوْلِ الشَّعْرِ ، ثُمَّ حَفَنَ عَلَى رَأْسِهَ ثَلَاثَ حَفَنَاتٍ ، ثُمَّ أَفَاضَ عَلَى سَائِرِ جَسَدِهِ ثُمَّ غَسَلَ رِجْلَيْهِ . مُتَّفَقٌ عَلَيْهِ

From Aisha radliallahu anha, she said, "When the Messenger of Allah sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam bathed from janabah, he would begin by washing his hands. Then he would pour water from his right hand over his left and wash his private parts. Next, he would perform wudu, take water, and place his fingers at the roots of his hair. He then poured three handfuls of water over his head, followed by washing the rest of his body, and finally washing his feet." This hadith is narrated by al-Bukhari and Muslim.

عَنْ أَبِيْ هُرَيْرَةَ رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ : قَالَ رَسُوْلُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ : إِنَّ تَحْتَ كُلِّ شَعْرَةٍ جَنَابَةً ، فَاغْسِلُوْا الشَّعْرَ ، وَانْقُوْا الْبَشَرَةَ . رَوَاهُ أَبُوْ دَاوُدَ وَالتِّرْمِذِيُّ

From Abu Hurairah radliyallaahu anhu, he said, "Allah's Messenger sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam said, 'Indeed, under every hair there is a janabah. Wash your hair and clean your skin!'" This hadith is narrated by Abu Dawood and at-Tirmidhi.

In general, we can perform the bath after sex according to Islam as explained in the second hadith. However, specifically, as described in Islamic literature, there are some important actions that a Muslim about to take a bath after sex should follow:

• They must ensure that the water they use for bathing is pure and can purify the body.
• They should recite the prayer for bathing after sex.
• They must wash every inch of their skin, from the head to the soles of the feet, ensuring that water touches all the pores of their body.

That's a brief explanation of "how to bathe after sex according to Islam." As Muslims, it is essential for us to understand this.

Obligatory Dua Before Bath After Sex According to Islam

The third important point about "How to bathe after sex in Islam" which I will explain now, is the obligatory dua before the bath. I want you to understand this because it is one of the essential components of the bath after sex or the Janabah bath. In fact, it is important that you memorize this dua.

In Islamic legal literature, the obligatory dua before the bath after sex or before the Janabah bath is understood as "Niyyah." This is the key difference between the bath after sex or the Janabah bath and a regular bath.

In general, the dua for the bath after sex (Janabah bath) must include an explanation of the niyyah, indicating that its purpose is to remove the major hadas resulting from sexual activity. A Muslim who is about to perform the Janabah bath must recognize that this obligation is done for the sake of Allah Ta'ala, not for any other reason.

An example of the dua for the bath after sex according to Islam is as follows:

نَوَيْتُ الْغُسْلَ لِرَفْعِ الْحَدَثِ الْأَكْبَرِ فَرْضًا لِلَّهِ تَعَالَى

"I intend to take a bath to get rid of the major hadas, as an obligation for Allah Ta'ala."

That’s a brief explanation of the obligatory dua before the bath after sex according to Islam. As Muslims, we must understand this.

This concludes our discussion of the bath after sex according to Islam, or the Janabah bath. I hope this information is useful. Ameen.