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Is it obligatory to wash the inner ears during ghusl, and does ghusl become invalid if this is not done, and is it sufficient to pass a finger inside them if there is earwax?

1 min readAlso available in العربية

The obligatory ghusl (ritual bath) involves covering the entire outer body with water. This includes the outer and inner parts of the ears. Regarding the ear canal (al-sumākh), scholars have differed on the obligation of washing it. The Malikis believe in wiping it. The Hanafis hold that it is obligatory to wash everything that can be washed without hardship. The Shafi'is maintain that it is obligatory to wash what is visible of it, but not what is internal. Accordingly, water must be passed over the ear canal without inserting it. It is not obligatory to remove earwax from inside the ear unless it is on the visible part and prevents water from reaching the skin.

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

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