Question:
Is there a hadith that narrates that it is sunnah to perform ablution between two intercourses?
Answer:
Alhamdulillah, praise and thanks to Allah for the countless blessings He has blessed us all with. Blessings and salutations to the Prophet Muhammad PBUH, his wives, his family, companions and all those that follow his teachings to the day of judgement.
In Islam, we are taught the manners for everything from the smallest to the greatest of matters and this proves the perfection of this religion of Islam. Furthermore, among the purpose the Prophet PBUH was sent is to perfect the character of people.
- From Abu Hurairah RA, the Prophet PBUH said:
إِنَّمَا بُعِثْتُ لِأُتَمِّمَ صَالِحَ الْأَخْلَاقِ
"I was sent to perfect good character."
Sahih al-Bukhari in al-Adab al-Mufrad (273) Also see al-Jami’ al-Saghir (2584)
According to the above question, there is an authentic hadith from the Prophet PBUH where it states that it is sunnah to perform ablution if a person wants to have intercourse with his wife again:
- From Abu Said al-Khudri RA, the Prophet PBUH said:
إِذَا أَتَى أَحَدُكُمْ أَهْلَهُ، ثُمَّ أَرَادَ أَنْ يَعُودَ، فَلْيَتَوَضَّأْ
“If one of you has sexual intercourse with his wife and wishes to repeat he should perform ablution between them”
Sahih Muslim (308)
Imam al-Nawawi when commenting on the above hadith said, it is permissible for a person in the state of janabah (major impure state) to sleep, eat, drink and has intercourse before performing obligatory bath. This has been agreed (by scholars) and the scholars have also agreed that the sweat and physical body of a person in the state of janabah is pure. However, it is sunnah for him (a person in the state of janabah) to perform ablution or wash his private part before doing the previously stated actions, especially if he wants to have intercourse with his wife who he has not have intercourse with. This shows that it is sunnah to purify his private parts and this is also stated by scholars of madhab al-Syafie that it is makruh (for a person in the state of janabah) to sleep, eat, drink and have intercourse before he performs ablution.
Furthermore, Imam al-Nawawi also states several wisdoms based on the encouragement of the Prophet PBUH to perform ablution in this case to several opinions of scholars, among them are: (al-Minhaj Syarah Sahih Muslim, 3/217-218)
- Mitigate the state of janabah
- Purifying the body parts of ablution
- Concern that a person will die in impure state while sleeping
- Refreshing oneself by taking a bath
Conclusion
To conclude, there is certainly an encouragement from an authentic hadith that states that it is sunnah for a person who wants to have intercourse again to perform ablution to refresh himself. However, it is prioritized to take a bath if he wants to have intercourse again, for this is what the Prophet PBUH did:
- From Abu Rafi’ RA, he said:
أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ طَافَ ذَاتَ يَوْمٍ عَلَى نِسَائِهِ، يَغْتَسِلُ عِنْدَ هَذِهِ وَعِنْدَ هَذِهِ، قَالَ: قُلْتُ لَهُ: يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ، أَلَا تَجْعَلُهُ غُسْلًا وَاحِدًا، قَالَ: هَذَا أَزْكَى وَأَطْيَبُ وَأَطْهَرُ
“One day the Prophet (ﷺ) had intercourse with all his wives. He took a bath after each intercourse. I asked him: Messenger of Allah, why don't you make it a single bath? He replied: This is more purifying, better and cleaning.”
Sunan Abu Daud (219) [Syeikh Syu’aib al-Arna’outh evaluates the sanad of this hadith as weak (dhaif), while Syeikh al-Albani said the hadith is hasan]
Lastly, may Allah SWT bless us with pious spouse and children who will be the apple of our eyes. Amin.
Wallahua’lam.