Question:
Assalamualaikum SS Datuk Mufti. After I had intercourse with my husband during the night, the next morning for Subuh prayer I found out that I’m menstruating.
My question is, after my menstruation ends, should I set the intention for obligatory bath to purify myself for both major hadas (intercourse and menstruation) or just set one intention for menstruation?
Hope for an explanation from Mufti. Thank you.
Answer:
Alhamdulillah, praise and thanks to Allah for the countless blessings He has blessed us all with. Blessings and salutations to the Prophet Muhammad PBUH, his wives, his family, companions and all those that follow his teachings to the day of judgement.
Allah SWT sanctioned obligatory bath when someone experienced major hadas before performing several worships such as prayer, tawaf, touching mushaf al-Quran, iktikaf in mosques and others as stated in the Quran:
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لَا تَقْرَبُوا الصَّلَاةَ وَأَنتُمْ سُكَارَىٰ حَتَّىٰ تَعْلَمُوا مَا تَقُولُونَ وَلَا جُنُبًا إِلَّا عَابِرِي سَبِيلٍ حَتَّىٰ تَغْتَسِلُوا ۚ
“O you who have believed, do not approach prayer while you are intoxicated until you know what you are saying or in a state of janabah, except those passing through [a place of prayer], until you have washed [your whole body].”
Surah al-Nisa’ (43)
The same is said in the statement of Allah SWT:
وَإِن كُنتُمْ جُنُبًا فَاطَّهَّرُوا ۚ
“And if you are in a state of janabah, then purify yourselves.”
Surah al-Maidah (6)
Scholars have set several matters that would require someone to perform the obligatory bath before he performs worship. These matters are specified in the book al-Taqrirat al-Sadidah fi al-Masail al-Mufidah:
- Intercourse or the insertion of penis (hasyafah) into the vagina.
- Excretion of semen
- Menstruation
- Bleeding due to childbirth (post-natal bleeding)
- Bleeding during labour (when giving birth)
- Death
(Refer al-Taqrirat al-Sadidah fi al-Masail al-Mufidah: 114-117)
Furthermore, scholars said that there are three obligatory conditions of obligatory bath and they are:
- Intention
- Removing any najis (things that are religiously considered as impure) from the body
- Washing and making sure water reaches to the whole body (including hairs and body hairs)
(Refer Matan Ghoyah wa al-Taqrib: 21)
Regarding the discussion on intention, the intention should be set during the first wash of the body. As for the number of intentions for various reasons of hadas, Syeikh Hasan al-Kaf explained in his book, saying:
مَسْأَلَةٌ (1): إِذَا اجْتَمَعَ عَلَيْه غُسْلَانِ وَاجِبَانِ فَأَكْثَرَ (كَالجِمَاعِ وَ خُرُوجِ المَنِيّ) فَهَلْ تَكْفِي عَنْهُمَا نِيَّةُ وَاحِدَةٌ؟
الجواب: نَعَمْ تَكْفِى نِيَّةٌ وَاحِدَةٌ لَهُمَا. وَ مِثْلُهُ فِي غُسْلِ السُنَّةِ
“Issue 1: If there are two or more reasons that obligate the obligatory bath such as intercourse and excretion of semen for example, then it is sufficient to only set one intention? Answer: Yes, it is enough with only one intention for both reasons. The same is for sunnah bath (it is enough to set one intention for two sunnah baths). (See al-Taqrirat al-Sadidah fi al-Masail al-Mufidah: 118)
Conclusion
According to the above discussion, we would like to conclude that it is sufficient to set one intention for obligatory bath when there are two or more reasons for the obligatory bath. Thus, it is not necessary for us to set two intentions for obligatory bath for two major hadas such as intercourse and menstruation. May Allah SWT give us understanding and guide us in practising His commandments the best we could. Amin.
Wallahua’lam.