Date : 04-05-2010

Question :

A patient of advanced stage cancer is having difficulty in repeating Ghusl (Ritual bath). What is the ruling on that?


The Answer :

All perfect praise be to Allah The Lord of The Worlds and may His peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon all of his family and companions.



We ask Allah, The Generous, to bless you with recovery and please you and your parents with that.



As regards prayer, harm is prevented by Sharia since Allah, The Most Exalted, Said (What means): "He has chosen you, and has imposed no difficulties on you in religion." [Al-Hajj/78], in addition, He Said (What means): "On no soul doth God Place a burden greater than it can bear." [Al-Baqarah/286]. Therefore, the above person should do his best in performing Ghusland avoiding spending too much effort doing that. However, if that is harddue to his being ill, it is permissible that he does Tayammum (Dry ablution) instead of Ghusl; and this can be performed by putting some soil in a jar; then wiping both hands with it. The first wipe is applied tothe face, and the second extends from the hands to the elbows. If this was also hard for him to do, then it is permissible that he calls someone to give him a hand. If there was nobody there, then he may pray without ablution.And Allah Knows Best.