Is it permissible to perform the obligatory ritual bath at 7 am during Ramadan fasting? Here's the ruling.
How is the ruling on performing the obligatory ritual bath at 7 am during Ramadan?
Ruling on performing the obligatory ritual bath after the Fajr prayer
The complete intention for performing the obligatory ritual bath
FAQ: Is there a maximum time limit for performing the obligatory ritual bath in the morning during Ramadan? Does a woman who is ritually pure from menstruation before dawn but performs the ritual bath after the Fajr prayer still have a valid fast? What if one wakes up late and has not performed the obligatory ritual bath before the Fajr prayer time is almost over?
When in a state of major ritual impurity (junub), a Muslim is required to perform the obligatory ritual bath to return to a state of purity. However, if the obligatory ritual bath is performed at 7 am during Ramadan fasting, what is the ruling in Islam?
For information, the KBBI (Indonesian Dictionary) defines junub as a state of impurity due to the emission of semen or sexual intercourse, which requires a person to perform a ritual bath by washing the entire body from the tips of the hair to the tips of the toes. Meanwhile, hadas is a state of impurity in a Muslim that prevents them from performing prayers, tawaf, and so on.
Whether in a state of junub or major ritual impurity, a Muslim is required to perform a major ritual bath or obligatory ritual bath. As explained in the book ‘Complete Prayer Guide According to the Teachings of Prophet Muhammad SAW’ by Ali Abdullah, the command to purify oneself from junub and hadas is contained in the verses of the Quran. Allah SWT says in Surah Al-Ma’idah verse 6:
‘O you who believe, when you stand up for prayer, wash your faces and your hands up to the elbows, and wipe your heads and your feet up to the ankles. If you are in a state of junub, then take a bath. And if you are sick or on a journey, or if one of you has relieved himself or touched a woman, and you do not find water, then perform tayammum with clean earth and wipe your faces and your hands with it. Allah does not want to put you in difficulty, but He wants to purify you and complete His favor upon you, so that you may be grateful.’
Key points:
Fasting remains valid even if a person is still in a state of junub. This is based on a hadith narrated by Imam Bukhari and Imam Muslim which states that Prophet Muhammad SAW once entered the time of dawn in a state of junub but still fasted.
Even though fasting is valid, the obligatory ritual bath should not be delayed until after the prayer time. A person can delay the ritual bath as long as the prayer time has not almost ended. This means that one must immediately purify oneself before performing the Fajr prayer so that the prayer is valid.
The intention for performing the obligatory ritual bath in a state of junub or hadas is: ‘I intend to perform the ritual bath to remove the major ritual impurity as an obligation for the sake of Allah Almighty.’
What is the ruling on performing the obligatory ritual bath at 7 am during Ramadan?
Performing the obligatory ritual bath at 7 am may have various reasons for each Muslim. Whether it is due to being forgetful or waking up late. In essence, there is no hadith or verse in the Quran that specifically explains the ruling on performing the obligatory ritual bath at 7 am.
Instead, there is an explanation about whether or not a Muslim who intends to fast but has not had time to perform the obligatory ritual bath. Quoting from the book ‘Fikih Puasa’ by Ali Musthafa Siregar, when a person is in a state of junub and does not immediately perform the obligatory ritual bath until morning, the fast performed is still valid.
For example, a husband and wife who have intercourse at night or a woman who is menstruating and has stopped menstruating but has not had time to perform the ritual bath, so that she is still in a state of junub. Then the fast that is performed is still valid.
This is based on a hadith. As narrated:
‘The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) used to wake up in a state of junub from intercourse, not from a wet dream, and then he would fast and not make up for it.’ (HR. al-Bukhari and Muslim)
The same is also stated in the book ‘Guide to Obligatory and Sunnah Fasting’ by H Ahmad Zacky, SAg, MA, if a Muslim is in a state of junub at night, then when he wakes up in the morning he is still in a state of junub and intends to fast, then his fast is still considered valid. This also applies to women who are ritually pure from menstruation and postpartum bleeding before dawn, but have not had time to perform the obligatory ritual bath, then they can fast.
Based on the same hadith, it is stated:
‘The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) used to wake up in a state of junub from intercourse, not from a wet dream, during Ramadan and then he would fast.’ (HR. Bukhari and Muslim)
Ruling on performing the obligatory ritual bath after the Fajr prayer
Even though fasting is still considered valid even if one has not performed the obligatory ritual bath, there is a time limit that Muslims must pay attention to. Especially considering that being in a state of purity is one of the conditions for the validity of performing prayers.