The basis of this chapter are the words of the Exalted, “And if ye are involved in jandba, purify yourself’,60 and His words, “They question thee (O Muhammad) concerning menstruation. Say: It is a suffering, so let women alone at such times and approach them not till they are cleansed. And when they have purified themselves, then go in unto them as Allah has enjoined upon you”.61

The jurists agreed about the obligation of this major ablution (full washing) arising from two kinds of hadath (ritual pollution). First, is the flowing of maniyy (this is known as the major hadath) in sound health during sleep, or while awake, both in the case of a male and of a female, except for what is related from al-NakhaT, who did not require bathing for a woman after a wet dream. The majority agreed about the similarity of women to men with respect to wet dreams because of the established tradition of Umm Salama. She said, “0 Messenger of Allah! If a woman sees in her sleep what a man sees, does she have to take a bath?” He replied, “Yes, if she finds moisture”. The second tradition, whose authenticity they also agreed about, relates to menstruation, and requires that bathing be performed, when it ceases. This is also based on the words of the Exalted, “They question thee (O Muhammad) concerning menstruation. Say: It is a suffering, so let women alone at such times and approach them not till they are cleansed. And when they have purified themselves, then go in unto them as Allah has enjoined upon you”. i Furthermore, it is based upon reports of the Prophet’s instructions to ^isha and other women about bathing. They differed in this chapter about two issues that are like basic principles.