Egypt’s Dar Al-Ifta Clarifies: Full Ghusl Can Replace Wudu If Performed Correctly
Dar Al-Ifta explains that a complete ghusl (ritual bath) with the proper intention and inclusion of mouth and nose rinsing suffices for both major and minor purification.
Dr. Ali Fakhr, Secretary of Fatwa at Egypt’s Dar Al-Ifta, clarified that a complete ritual bath performed with the intention of removing major impurity (janabah) is sufficient for prayer, provided it includes rinsing the mouth and nose, as this fulfills the full conditions of purification.
He stressed that intention plays a central role in determining the type of purification. If one intends both major and minor purification while bathing, that single intention suffices, lifting both impurities simultaneously — a view widely accepted among Islamic scholars for its simplicity and ease.
Dr. Fakhr explained that rinsing the mouth and nose are essential components of ghusl because they are primary entry points for impurities. While these actions are considered sunnah in wudu, they are obligatory in ghusl, and omitting them invalidates the act of purification.
He added that performing ghusl without these two actions makes it incomplete and invalid for prayer, urging Muslims to ensure full coverage of water across the entire body, including mouth and nose rinsing, to achieve complete purification.
Furthermore, he emphasized that intention distinguishes between ordinary washing and ritual purification. When performed with sincerity and complete coverage, ghusl fulfills both the major and minor purification requirements, making additional wudu unnecessary.
Dr. Fakhr concluded that a proper ghusl with intention, mouth, and nose rinsing counts as both ghusl and wudu, allowing the believer to pray immediately afterward. This ruling, upheld by the majority of scholars, reflects Islam’s balance between precision in worship and ease for the faithful.
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