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What should someone do if they wake up in a state of ritual impurity (janābah) and cannot perform ghusl due to lack of time to make it to work? How can they perform the prayer?

1 min readAlso available in العربية

It is obligatory for a person in a state of major ritual impurity (junub) who is able to use water and finds it, to perform ghusl (ritual bath). Tayammum (dry ablution) is not sufficient for him. So, if a person finds water and is able to use it, he must hasten to perform ghusl before going to work and perform prayer with water purity. Ghusl does not take a long time; rather, it is sufficient to pour water over the body and hair with the intention of removing major ritual impurity. However, if a person fears missing his companions for work or being late for the start of his shift, and this would cause him harm, then he may perform tayammum and pray, then perform ghusl and repeat the prayer, because "difficulty begets ease"; and Allah Almighty said: "And He has not placed upon you in the religion any difficulty," and the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: "Indeed, this religion is ease."

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

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