Friday Ghusl Is Not Wajib in Islam: 6 Strong Hadiths
C J Ahmed
02/06/2018 Updated-24/07/2020
Taking the ritual bath on Friday is a highly recommended sunnah but not an obligation. A large number of scholars are of the view that Ghusl (ritual bath) is a must for a Muslim on fridays. This argument is based on hadiths view says that it is an obligation but an issue of fiqh should be understood by taking all the hadiths in to consideration.
There are several Ahadith on this topic and lets analyze them.
Hadiths which indicate that its obligatory.
Allah’s Messenger (sal) said, “The taking of a bath on Friday is compulsory for every male (Muslim) who has attained the age of puberty.
(Sahih Al Bukhari)
`Umar bin Al-Khattab was standing and delivering the sermon on a Friday, one of the companions of the Prophet, who was one of the foremost Muhajirs (emigrants) came. `Umar said to him, “What is the time now?” He replied, “I was busy and could not go back to my house till I heard the Adhan. I did not perform more than the ablution.” Thereupon `Umar said to him, “Did you perform only the ablution although you know that Allah’s Messenger (sal) used to order us to take a bath (on Fridays)?”[
(Sahih Al Bukhari)
Abu Sa'id al-Khudri reported the Messenger of Allah (sal) as saying:
Taking bath on Friday is necessary for every adult.
(Abu Dawud-graded sahih by Albani)
Sa'id al-Khudri reported Allah's Messenger (sal) as saying:
Taking a bath on Friday is essential for every adult person.
(Sahih Muslim)
When reading the above hadiths it might seam that it is obligatory to take a bath on fridays. But there are authentic hadiths proving that taking the ritual bath is not a must on friday.
7 Powerful Hadiths which say that its a sunnah.
1. Narrated Aisha (rali):
" The people used to come from their abodes and from Al-`Awali (i.e. outskirts of Medina up to a distance of four miles or more from Medina). They used to pass through dust and used to be drenched with sweat and covered with dust; so sweat used to trickle from them. One of them came to Allah's Messenger (sal) who was in my house. The Prophet (sal) said to him, "I wish that you keep yourself clean on this day of yours (i.e. take a bath)."
(Bukhari and Muslim)
2. Narrated Sumara (rali):
Allah’s Messenger (sal) said: “Whoever performs ablution on Friday has done a good thing and he who takes bath, taking bath is better (for him).”
[Reported by Al-Khamsa and At-Tirmidhi graded it Hasan (fair)).
3. Samurah b. Jundub narrates that Allah's Messenger (sal) said:
"Whoever performs ablutions on Friday, it is well and good. And whoever takes a bath has done what is
better."
(Narrated by Ibn Kuzaymah in his Sahih, At Tirmidhi,Nasai and others and graded sahih by Ibn Kayyum using supporting narrations)
After understanding the above three hadiths it is clear that taking a bath on Friday is highly recommended and not wajib. For something to be obligatory there must be no hadith with differing rulings. But in this case there are two rulings and from this it could be understood that taking a bath on Friday is not an obligation.
Why its recommended could be understood because for cleanliness.
4. In a hadith Narrated Yahya bin Sa`id:who asked Amra about taking a bath on Fridays. She replied, " Aisha said, 'The people used to work (for their livelihood) and whenever they went for the Jumua prayer, they used to go to the mosque in the same shape as they had been in work. So they were asked to take a bath on Friday.' (Sahih Al Bukhari)
and in the below hadith
A'ishah also tells us: "People used to go out on Friday from their homes and families. They would get dirty. They would sweat and become covered in dust. One such person approached Allah's Messenger (sal) while he was with me. The Prophet (sal) said: 'If only you people would bathe for this day of yours'."
(Bukhari and Muslim)
5.Narrated Aisha (rali):
" The people used to come from their abodes and from Al-`Awali (i.e. outskirts of Medina up to a distance of four miles or more from Medina). They used to pass through dust and used to be drenched with sweat and covered with dust; so sweat used to trickle from them. One of them came to Allah's Messenger (sal) who was in my house. The Prophet (sal) said to him, "I wish that you keep yourself clean on this day of yours (i.e. take a bath)."
(Bukhari and Muslim)
After analyzing all the main hadiths on this subject it is clear that taking a bath on friday is only a sunnah and not wajib and if you do not do ghusl it wont be a sin. This view was also favoured by Sheikh Bin Baz and Ibn Abbas (rali).
6. Amr bin Abi 'Amr and 'Ikrimah reported:
"Some people of Iraq came and said: Ibn 'Abbas, do you regard taking a bath on Friday as obligatory ? He said: No, it is only a means of cleanliness, and is better for one who washes oneself.
(Abu Dawud-Graded Hasan by Abani).
How To Make Ghusl.
Making Ghusl is the same as making Ghusl due to Janaba. Abu Hurairah, may Allah be pleased with him, reported:
The Messenger of Allah (sal) said: He who takes a bath on Friday, like the bath which is obligatory after the sexual discharge and then goes (to the mosque), he is like one who offers a she-camel as a sacrifice, and he who comes at the second hour would be like one who offers a cow, and he who comes at the third hour is like one who offers a ram with horns, and he who comes at the fourth hour is like one who offers a hen, and he who comes at the fifth hour is like one who offers an egg. And when the Imam comes out, the angels are also present and listen to the mention of Allah (the sermon).
(Sahih Muslim)
Humraan bin Abaan [the servant of Uthmaan (rali)] who said:
I saw Uthmaan bin `Affaan performing ritual ablution. He poured water over his hands, washing them three times. Then he rinsed his mouth and snuffed his nose [by putting water in it and then blowing it out]. Then he washed his right arm to his elbow three times and did the same for the left. Then he wiped his head, then he washed his right foot and did the same with his left. Then he said, "I saw the Messenger of Allaah (sal) performing ritual ablution in the way that I have just done, then he (sal) said, 'whosoever performs ritual ablution as I have done, proceeding to pray two rak`ahs in which he thinks of nothing else save the prayer shall have his previous sins forgiven.'"
(Bukhari and Muslim).
02/06/2018 Updated-24/07/2020
Taking the ritual bath on Friday is a highly recommended sunnah but not an obligation. A large number of scholars are of the view that Ghusl (ritual bath) is a must for a Muslim on fridays. This argument is based on hadiths view says that it is an obligation but an issue of fiqh should be understood by taking all the hadiths in to consideration.
There are several Ahadith on this topic and lets analyze them.
Hadiths which indicate that its obligatory.
Allah’s Messenger (sal) said, “The taking of a bath on Friday is compulsory for every male (Muslim) who has attained the age of puberty.
(Sahih Al Bukhari)
`Umar bin Al-Khattab was standing and delivering the sermon on a Friday, one of the companions of the Prophet, who was one of the foremost Muhajirs (emigrants) came. `Umar said to him, “What is the time now?” He replied, “I was busy and could not go back to my house till I heard the Adhan. I did not perform more than the ablution.” Thereupon `Umar said to him, “Did you perform only the ablution although you know that Allah’s Messenger (sal) used to order us to take a bath (on Fridays)?”[
(Sahih Al Bukhari)
Abu Sa'id al-Khudri reported the Messenger of Allah (sal) as saying:
Taking bath on Friday is necessary for every adult.
(Abu Dawud-graded sahih by Albani)
Sa'id al-Khudri reported Allah's Messenger (sal) as saying:
Taking a bath on Friday is essential for every adult person.
(Sahih Muslim)
When reading the above hadiths it might seam that it is obligatory to take a bath on fridays. But there are authentic hadiths proving that taking the ritual bath is not a must on friday.
7 Powerful Hadiths which say that its a sunnah.
1. Narrated Aisha (rali):
" The people used to come from their abodes and from Al-`Awali (i.e. outskirts of Medina up to a distance of four miles or more from Medina). They used to pass through dust and used to be drenched with sweat and covered with dust; so sweat used to trickle from them. One of them came to Allah's Messenger (sal) who was in my house. The Prophet (sal) said to him, "I wish that you keep yourself clean on this day of yours (i.e. take a bath)."
(Bukhari and Muslim)
2. Narrated Sumara (rali):
Allah’s Messenger (sal) said: “Whoever performs ablution on Friday has done a good thing and he who takes bath, taking bath is better (for him).”
[Reported by Al-Khamsa and At-Tirmidhi graded it Hasan (fair)).
3. Samurah b. Jundub narrates that Allah's Messenger (sal) said:
"Whoever performs ablutions on Friday, it is well and good. And whoever takes a bath has done what is
better."
(Narrated by Ibn Kuzaymah in his Sahih, At Tirmidhi,Nasai and others and graded sahih by Ibn Kayyum using supporting narrations)
After understanding the above three hadiths it is clear that taking a bath on Friday is highly recommended and not wajib. For something to be obligatory there must be no hadith with differing rulings. But in this case there are two rulings and from this it could be understood that taking a bath on Friday is not an obligation.
Why its recommended could be understood because for cleanliness.
4. In a hadith Narrated Yahya bin Sa`id:who asked Amra about taking a bath on Fridays. She replied, " Aisha said, 'The people used to work (for their livelihood) and whenever they went for the Jumua prayer, they used to go to the mosque in the same shape as they had been in work. So they were asked to take a bath on Friday.' (Sahih Al Bukhari)
and in the below hadith
A'ishah also tells us: "People used to go out on Friday from their homes and families. They would get dirty. They would sweat and become covered in dust. One such person approached Allah's Messenger (sal) while he was with me. The Prophet (sal) said: 'If only you people would bathe for this day of yours'."
(Bukhari and Muslim)
5.Narrated Aisha (rali):
" The people used to come from their abodes and from Al-`Awali (i.e. outskirts of Medina up to a distance of four miles or more from Medina). They used to pass through dust and used to be drenched with sweat and covered with dust; so sweat used to trickle from them. One of them came to Allah's Messenger (sal) who was in my house. The Prophet (sal) said to him, "I wish that you keep yourself clean on this day of yours (i.e. take a bath)."
(Bukhari and Muslim)
After analyzing all the main hadiths on this subject it is clear that taking a bath on friday is only a sunnah and not wajib and if you do not do ghusl it wont be a sin. This view was also favoured by Sheikh Bin Baz and Ibn Abbas (rali).
6. Amr bin Abi 'Amr and 'Ikrimah reported:
"Some people of Iraq came and said: Ibn 'Abbas, do you regard taking a bath on Friday as obligatory ? He said: No, it is only a means of cleanliness, and is better for one who washes oneself.
(Abu Dawud-Graded Hasan by Abani).
How To Make Ghusl.
Making Ghusl is the same as making Ghusl due to Janaba. Abu Hurairah, may Allah be pleased with him, reported:
The Messenger of Allah (sal) said: He who takes a bath on Friday, like the bath which is obligatory after the sexual discharge and then goes (to the mosque), he is like one who offers a she-camel as a sacrifice, and he who comes at the second hour would be like one who offers a cow, and he who comes at the third hour is like one who offers a ram with horns, and he who comes at the fourth hour is like one who offers a hen, and he who comes at the fifth hour is like one who offers an egg. And when the Imam comes out, the angels are also present and listen to the mention of Allah (the sermon).
(Sahih Muslim)
Humraan bin Abaan [the servant of Uthmaan (rali)] who said:
I saw Uthmaan bin `Affaan performing ritual ablution. He poured water over his hands, washing them three times. Then he rinsed his mouth and snuffed his nose [by putting water in it and then blowing it out]. Then he washed his right arm to his elbow three times and did the same for the left. Then he wiped his head, then he washed his right foot and did the same with his left. Then he said, "I saw the Messenger of Allaah (sal) performing ritual ablution in the way that I have just done, then he (sal) said, 'whosoever performs ritual ablution as I have done, proceeding to pray two rak`ahs in which he thinks of nothing else save the prayer shall have his previous sins forgiven.'"
(Bukhari and Muslim).