Question: Can ghusl (ritual bath) be delayed until after Fajr during Ramaḍān?
Answer:
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ، الْـحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ، وَالصَّلَاةُ وَالسَّلَامُ عَلَى أَشْرَفِ الْأَنْبِيَاءِ وَالْمُرْسَلِينَ، نَبِيِّنَا مُحَمَّدٍ، وَعَلَى آلِهِ وَصَحْبِهِ أَجْمَعِينَ، وَمَنْ تَبِعَهُمْ بِإِحْسَانٍ إِلَى يَوْمِ الدِّينِ.
One of the conditions for fasting is entering the state of fasting with the correct intention before Fajr. However, being in a state of major ritual impurity (janābah) at the time of Fajr does not invalidate the fast. This is supported by authentic narrations from the Sunnah.
ʿĀʾishah and Umm Salamah رضي الله عنهما reported:
“The Messenger of Allah ﷺ would wake up in the morning in a state of janābah from intercourse, not from a wet dream, and he would fast.” (Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī and Muslim)
This ḥadīth demonstrates that ghusl may be performed after the entrance of Fajr time, and the fast remains valid.
All four madhāhib agree that delaying ghusl due to janābah until after Fajr does not invalidate the fast. The same applies to women who complete menstruation or post-natal bleeding before Fajr—they may fast even if ghusl is done shortly after dawn.
However, delaying ghusl beyond the time of the next obligatory prayer (e.g., ẓuhr) without a valid excuse is sinful, as one is required to be in a state of purity for prayer.
Therefore, it is permitted to delay ghusl until after Fajr during Ramaḍān if the cause of janābah occurred before dawn. The fast remains valid, but one must perform ghusl in time to pray.
وَاللَّهُ أَعْلَمُ.