Your head and comb it." It is recorded by Ibn Majah (12): "Unbraid your hair and perform ghusl." This is because the fundamental principle is the obligation of unbraiding the hair so that it is certain that water reaches what must be washed. However, an exemption was granted in the ghusl for janabah because it occurs frequently, making it difficult; menstruation is different, so it remains according to the original ruling of obligation. Some of our companions said: This is recommended and not obligatory. This is the opinion of the majority of jurists, and it is the correct one, if Allah wills, because in some versions of the hadith of Umm Salamah, she said to the Prophet (peace be upon him): "I am a woman who keeps my hair tightly braided; should I unbraid it for menstruation and for janabah?" He said: "No, it is sufficient for you to pour three handfuls of water on your head, then pour water over yourself, and you will be purified." Narrated by Muslim (13). This is an addition that must be accepted, and it is explicit in negating the obligation. Asma' also narrated that she asked the Prophet (peace be upon him) about the ghusl for menstruation, and he said: "One of you should take her water and her sidr (14), then purify herself and perform the purification well. Then she should pour water over her head and rub it vigorously, until she reaches the roots (shu'un) of her head, and then pour water over herself." Narrated by Muslim (15). If unbraiding were obligatory, he would have mentioned it, because it is not permissible to delay the clarification of a ruling beyond the time of need. Furthermore, it is a part of the body, so menstruation and janabah are equal in this regard, just like the rest of the body.