Question :
A question was asked about the ruling for the major ritual ablution (ghusl) [during the Friday Prayer].
Fatwa in Brief: The Friday ghusl is
obligatory for each mature adult that attends the Friday
prayer.
Shaykh Ibn al-‘Uthaymin, Majmu‘ Fatawa wa Rasa’il,
16/135
Response:
The major ritual ablution is not an obligation before
the Friday prayer, according to most scholars. Indeed,
it is even said that there is scholarly consensus (ijma‘)
on the matter [that it is not obligatory].
Commentary:
Whoever comes to the Friday prayers should [not “must”]
perform ghusl, wear two clean garments (thawb),
and put on perfume. There is no disagreement regarding
the fact that these things are recommended. In support
of this, there are numerous hadiths attributed to
both the Prophet, and to his Companions. Among
these are included a hadith attributed to Salman
al-Farsi, who reports that the Messenger of God (upon
him be peace) once said:
Whoever takes a bath [i.e.
the major ritual ablution] on Friday should purify
himself well; then he should use the oil he puts in his
hair, or perfumes himself with the scent of his house.
Then, he should proceed to the mosque (for the Friday
prayer). There, he should not leave a space between
himself and the person that he prays alongside. He
should pray as much as (God has) written for him, and
then remain silent, while the Imam delivers the sermon (khutba).
[If he does this correctly] All his sins from the
previous Friday until that Friday will be forgiven.
This hadith is
included by Bukhari. Yet, performing the major ritual
ablution is not obligatory according to most scholars. Indeed, it is even said that there is scholarly
consensus (ijma‘) on the matter [that it is not
obligatory]. Ibn ‘Abd al-Bar said: “Muslim scholars,
both past and present, agree that the Friday ghusl
is not a matter of obligation”. Ahmad, however, knows
another report, to the effect that a major ritual
ablution on Friday is obligatory. Here, his evidence is
that the Prophet (upon him be peace) once remarked that
“the Friday ablution (ghusl) is obligatory on
each muhtalim”. This validity of this hadith
is recognised by the majority, who base their view [that
ghusl on Friday is recommended] on it. Their
evidence [contra that of Ahmad] is another hadith,
with a good chain of transmission (Hasan),
narrated by al-Nisa’i and al-Tirmidhi. According to
this: “It suffices to perform
wudu’ properly for the Friday prayer, though it
is better to take a bath”.[1]
In the Fatwa Centre, under
the Supervision of Dr. ‘Abdullah
al-Faqih:
According to the four law
schools, the major ritual ablution before the Friday
prayers is merely recommended, not obligatory. This is
the best opinion. Nevertheless [there is no doubt that]
Muslims should, on the strength of the abovementioned
hadiths, perform this ablution.
[2]
And God knows best.
Dr. ‘Ali Mansur
[1]
Ibn Qudama, Al-Mughni, 2/98.
[2]
Fatwa no 11802, 22nd Ramadan,
1422 AH.