Back to search

Is ablution and ritual bathing valid if I inhale water three times, then inhale a fourth time with the intention of repeating the first?

1 min readAlso available in العربية

Scholars have differed regarding the ruling on sniffing water into the nose (istinsḥāq) during ghusl (ritual bath) and wudu' (ablution). The Sunnah is to perform istinsḥāq three times. Istinsḥāq is the act of drawing water into the inner part of the nose with a breath to cleanse it, and it is not obligatory to make the water reach all parts of the nose. If the required amount of istinsḥāq is achieved in the first instance, then a fourth is not prescribed but does not invalidate the wudu' or ghusl. If istinsḥāq was not achieved in the first instance, then a fourth is appropriate. The ghusl and wudu' are valid, and there is no need to repeat them.

Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026

Read the full answer on Ftawy