Sleeping - Islamic Guide To Sexual Relations

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1)   Sleeping in a State of Major Ritual Impurity (janaba)

a) It is recommended for the couple to hasten in having a ritual bath after sexual relations. One should endeavour to end one's state of Janaba as soon as possible, as it releases one from the restrictions of ritual impurity.

Sayyiduna 'Ali (r) relates that the Messenger of Allah (sa) said:

"The angels do not enter a house in which there is a picture, a dog, or a person in a state of major ritual impurity [a junub]." 

(Sunan Abi Dawud 229)

This hadith is referring to an individual who unnecessarily remains in a state of major ritual impurity for a considerable length of time to the extent that the obligatory (fard) prayers are delayed. In such a case, one is sinful; otherwise it is not obligatory to have a bath directly after sexual relations. It is permitted, without dislike, to go to sleep in a state of janaba, even though having a bath is superior. Sayyida 'A'isha (r) relates:

'The Messenger of Allah (sa) would sleep while he was in a state of major ritual impurity without touching water." 

(Sunan al-Tirmidhi 118, Sunan Abi Dawud 230 and Sunan Ibn Majah 581)

The author of the commentary of Sunan al-Tirmidhi, Tuhfat al­Ahwadhi, states: "In this hadith, there is proof that it is permitted for a junub to go to sleep before having a bath and before performing an ablution." (Tuhfat al-Ahwadhi bi Sharh Jami' al-Tirmidhi 1:397)

Ghudayf ibn al-Harith relates:

"I asked 'A'isha, "Have you seen the Messenger of Allah (sa) having a bath of janaba at the beginning of the night or at the end?" She replied, "Sometimes he would have a bath at the beginning of the night and sometimes at the end." And so I said, "Allah is Most Great. All Praise be to Allah Who put ease in the matter. .."  

(Sunan Abi Dawud 228 and others)

Imam Nawawi states, 'The conclusion of these hadiths is that it is permitted for a junub to eat, drink, sleep and have sex before having a bath. This is something that is agreed upon by all the scholars [ ... ] The meaning [of the hadith in which it is mentioned that the Messenger of Allah (sa) would sleep without touching water] is that on a few occasions, he would not touch water at all in order to indicate permissibility [of going to sleep in such a state]. Had the Messenger of Allah (sa) continuously used water, it would have been presumed that using water is necessary, and Allah knows best." (Al-Minhaj Sharh Sahih Muslim P: 372-373)

b) If one wishes to sleep without having a bath, one is encouraged to perform a ritual ablution (wudu)  Sayyida 'A'isha (r) relates:

''Whenever the Messenger of Allah (sa) intended to sleep in a state of major ritual impurity, he would wash his private parts and perform ablution like that for the prayer."  

(Sahih al-Bukhari 284 and Sahih Muslim 305, the wording is of Bukhari)

Sayyiduna 'Umar ibn al-Khattab (r) asked the Messenger of Allah (sa) "Can any one of us sleep while in a state of major ritual impurity?" He replied:

''Yes, if one performs ablution, one can sleep while in a state of major ritual impurity." (Sahih al-Bukhari 283, Sahih Muslim 306 and Sunan al-Tirmidhi 120, the wording is of Bukhari)

Sayyiduna 'Umar ibn al-Khattab (r) mentioned to the Messenger of Allah (sa) that he becomes junub at night. The Messenger of Allah (sa) said to him:

"Perform ablution and wash your private parts, then go to sleep."  

(Sahih al-Bukhari 286 and Sahih Muslim 306)

With the exception of the isolated position of a handful of scholars, such as Dawud al-Zahiri and Ibn al-Habib al-Maliki, the general body of scholars (jumhur) hold that performing ablution before going to sleep is recommended, not obligatory. In other words, one would be rewarded for performing ablution but not sinful for omitting it.

This is supported by the narration recorded by Imam Ibn Khuzayma and Imam Ibn Hibban in their respective Salah collections that 'Umar ibn al-Khattab (r) asked the Messenger of Allah (sa): "Can any one of us sleep while in a state of major ritual impurity?" He replied:

''Yes, he may sleep, and perform ablution if he so wishes." (Sahih Ibn Khuzayma 211 )

Likewise, the hadith of Sayyida 'A'isha (r) quoted earlier that "the Messenger of Allah (sa)'' would sleep while in a state of major ritual impurity without touching water" is a proof that performing an ablution is not obligatory. Imam Nawawi states, "It is recommended to perform ablution and wash one's private parts before these matters [i.e. sleeping, eating, drinking and the like] [ ... ] Our scholars have clearly stated that it is [somewhat] disliked to sleep, eat, drink and have sex before performing ablution, and these hadiths would indicate that. However, there is no difference of opinion according to us that this performing of ablution is not obligatory (wajib). This is the opinion of Imam Malik and the majority of scholars ... " (Al-Minhaj Sharh Sahiih Muslim P: 372)

c) If one is unable to perform a ritual ablution, one should at least clean and wash one's private parts, as mentioned in the hadith of 'Umar ibn al-Khattab (r) recorded by Imam Bukhari . This is the last of the three stages. However, in this case also, there is no sin for not washing one's private parts, since it is reported that the Messenger of Allah (sa) retired to bed ''without touching water".

In conclusion, there are three stages here: 

• The optimum is to perform the ritual bath and then sleep; 
• if that is not possible, a ritual ablution should be performed; and 
• if that is not possible, one should at least wash one's private parts. 

However, if none of the above three actions are performed, one will still not be guilty of committing a sin.

Source: Islamic Guide To Sexual Relations

To Be Continued....