itself, it is only recommended during them. In any case, whoever wishes to enter into the state of ihram, it is recommended for him to perform ghusl before it, according to the opinion of most scholars, including Tawus, al-Nakha'i, Malik, al-Thawri, al-Shafi'i, and the jurists (Ashab al-Ra'y). This is due to what Kharijah ibn Zayd ibn Thabit narrated from his father, that he saw the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) strip down for his ihram and perform ghusl. It was narrated by al-Tirmidhi, who said: A hasan gharib (good but singular) hadith. It is also established that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) commanded Asma' bint Umays, while she was experiencing postpartum bleeding, to perform ghusl upon entering the state of ihram. He also commanded 'A'ishah to perform ghusl upon entering the state of ihram for Hajj, while she was menstruating. Furthermore, because this act of worship is one for which people gather, performing ghusl for it is Sunnah, just like for Jumu'ah (Friday prayer). This is not obligatory according to the consensus of the scholars. Ibn al-Mundhir stated: The scholars have reached a consensus that ihram is valid without ghusl, and that it is not obligatory. It was reported from al-Hasan that he said: If one forgets the ghusl, he should perform it when he remembers. Al-Athram said: I heard Abu 'Abd Allah, and it was said to him regarding some of the scholars of Medina: "Whoever omits the ghusl at the time of ihram, a blood sacrifice (dam) is upon him; because of the Prophet's (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) statement to Asma' while she was experiencing postpartum bleeding: 'Perform ghusl.' How then is it for the pure person?" He expressed astonishment at this statement. Ibn 'Umar used to perform ghusl sometimes and perform wudu' at other times. Whichever of these he performed, it sufficed him, for ghusl is not obligatory, and the command for it was not transmitted except for one who is menstruating or
(5) In [the chapter]: The Chapter on what is narrated regarding ghusl at the time of ihram, from the chapters on Hajj, 'Aridat al-Ahwadhi 4/48: As reported by al-Darimi, in [the chapter]: The Chapter on ghusl for ihram, from the Book of Rituals (Manasik). Sunan al-Darimi 2/31. (6) Reported by Muslim, in: The Chapter on the ihram of one experiencing postpartum bleeding..., from the Book of Hajj. Sahih Muslim 2/869. And Abu Dawud, in: The Chapter on the menstruating woman entering ihram for Hajj, from the Book of Rituals. Sunan Abi Dawud 1/404. And al-Nasa'i, in: The Chapter on ghusl for postpartum bleeding, from the Book of Purity, and in: The Chapter on what a woman experiencing postpartum bleeding does at the time of ihram, from the Book of Menstruation, and in: The Chapter on the ihram of a woman experiencing postpartum bleeding, from the Book of Hajj. Al-Mujtaba 1/101, 160, 5/127, 128. And Ibn Majah, in: The Chapter on the woman experiencing postpartum bleeding and the menstruating woman entering ihram for Hajj, from the Book of Rituals. Sunan Ibn Majah 2/971, 972. And Imam Malik, in: The Chapter on ghusl for ihram, from the Book of Hajj. Al-Muwatta 1/322. (7) Its authentication was previously mentioned on page 15. (8) In [MS] B: "mujtama'". (9) In [MS] A, B, M: "al-ghusl".
