Q: Is it permissible for a husband to make Ghusl (ritual bath) with his wife?

A: All praise be to Allah Alone, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger, and his family and Companions. It is permissible for the husband to take Ghusl after Janabah (major ritual impurity related to sexual discharge) with his wife from the same vessel. This ruling is substantiated by the Hadith narrated by Ibn ‘Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) who said: “The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) used to bathe with the water left over from Maymunah.” (Related by Ahmad and Muslim). Ibn ‘Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) reported from Maymunah (may Allah be pleased with her) that she said: “The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) performed Wudu’ (ablution) with the water left over from her Ghusl after major ritual impurity.” (Related by Ahmad, Ibn Majah). Ibn ‘Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) also said: “One of the wives of the Prophet (peace be upon him) took a bath from a large bowl. The Prophet (peace be upon him) wanted to perform Wudu’ (ablution) or take a bath from it. She said to him, ‘O Messenger of Allah! Verily, I was Junub (in a state of major ritual impurity).’ The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said, ‘Verily, water does not become Junub (i.e. Ritually impure).’” (Related by Ahmad, Abu Dawud, Al-Nasa'y and Al-Tirmidhy who classed it as Hasan (Good) Sahih (authentic) Hadith) Abu Dawud, and Al-Nasa'y reported the Hadith of the man who was in the company of the Prophet (peace be upon him) and said: “The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) forbade that woman should bathe with the water left over from man, and man with the water left over from woman. They should both scoop the water together.” Al-Hafiz ibn Hajar stated in his book “Fat-h Al-Bari” that this Hadith is narrated by Abu Dawud and Al-Nasa'y and its Isnad (chain of narrators) is authentic. (Part No. 5; Page No. 314) Moreover, Al-Bukhari and Muslim reported on the authority of Um Salamah (may Allah be pleased with her) that she said: “The Prophet (peace be upon him) and I used to take Ghusl from one vessel after Janabah (major ritual impurity related to sexual discharge).” Also, they reported that `Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) said: “The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) and I used to take Ghusl after Janabah from one vessel and we would take turns scooping the water out of it.” (Agreed upon by Al-Bukhari and Muslim) According to another wording reported by Al-Bukhari: “...From one vessel out of which we scooped the water together.” According to the narration of Muslim, the Hadith reads: ...From one vessel placed between me and him. He would hasten and take before me until I would say, “Leave some for me, leave some for me.” According to the wording of Al-Nasa'y, the Hadith reads: ...From one vessel and he would hasten to take before me and I would hasten to take before him until he would say, “Leave some for me!” and I would say, “Leave some for me!” Accordingly, it is clear from the above-mentioned Hadiths that it is permissible for a husband and his wife to make Ghusl together from the same container of water. Also, there is nothing wrong if one of the spouses makes Ghusl or performs Wudu’ with the water left over from the other spouse. However, it is better not to do so as long as other water is available so as to reconcile all the Hadiths stated in this regard.May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.