3/12. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 330a — Ghusl with Closely Plaited Hair
Ruling on the braids of a woman who is doing ghusl
Ghusl with Plaited Hair: Umm Salama’s Question
Sahih Muslim : 330a
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 330a
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، وَعَمْرٌو النَّاقِدُ، وَإِسْحَاقُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، وَابْنُ أَبِي عُمَرَ، كُلُّهُمْ عَنِ ابْنِ عُيَيْنَةَ، قَالَ إِسْحَاقُ أَخْبَرَنَا سُفْيَانُ، عَنْ أَيُّوبَ بْنِ مُوسَى، عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الْمَقْبُرِيِّ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ رَافِعٍ، مَوْلَى أُمِّ سَلَمَةَ عَنْ أُمِّ سَلَمَةَ، قَالَتْ قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنِّي امْرَأَةٌ أَشُدُّ ضَفْرَ رَأْسِي فَأَنْقُضُهُ لِغُسْلِ الْجَنَابَةِ قَالَ " لاَ إِنَّمَا يَكْفِيكِ أَنْ تَحْثِي عَلَى رَأْسِكِ ثَلاَثَ حَثَيَاتٍ ثُمَّ تُفِيضِينَ عَلَيْكِ الْمَاءَ فَتَطْهُرِينَ " .
Umm Salamah Narrated from:
I said: Messenger of Allah, I am a woman who has closely plaited hair on my head; should I undo it for taking a bath, because of sexual intercourse? He (the Holy Prophet) said: No, it is enough for you to throw three handfuls of water on your head and then pour water over yourself, and you shall be purified.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 330aIn-book reference : Book 3, Hadith 66USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 3, Hadith 643
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 330a
This Hadith is about ghusl with plaited hair. Umm Salama said to the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم that she was a woman who tied the plaits of her head closely. She asked whether she should undo them for the bath because of sexual intercourse. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said no. He told her it was enough to throw three handfuls of water on her head and then pour water over herself, and she would be purified. This is a key narration for searches like do I have to undo braided hair for ghusl and Umm Salama ghusl hadith. The text is specific to her question about janabah and closely plaited hair, so the explanation should stay within that wording.
What we learn from this hadith
- Umm Salama asked directly about closely plaited hair during ghusl after janabah.
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم told her she did not need to undo it in this report.
- He mentioned three handfuls of water on the head.
- He then told her to pour water over herself and said she would be purified.
