Heating the water for ghusl and performing fajr salaah in its time

Q: A person wakes up in need of a Fardh Ghusl 15 minutes before sunrise. There is no hot water and the person has chronic health issues. Using cold water will cause his health to deteriorate. It takes approximately 15 minutes to heat up sufficient water for Ghusl. If he waits, the time will expire and Fajr Salaah will become Qadha. What should be done in such a situation?

A: He should try to quickly heat the water to the extent that he will manage to make ghusl without the water affecting his health and then perform the Fajr salaah in its time. However, if he fears that the time will expire, then he should make tayammum and perform the fajr salaah in its time.

And Allah Ta'ala (الله تعالى) knows best.

ويجوز التيمم إذا خاف الجنب إذا اغتسل بالماء أن يقتله البرد أو يمرضه هذا إذا كان خارج المصر إجماعا فإن كان في المصر فكذا عند أبي حنيفة خلافا لهما والخلاف فيما إذا لم يجد ما يدخل به الحمام فإن وجد لم يجز إجماعا وفيما إذا لم يقدر على تسخين الماء فإن قدر لم يجز هكذا في السراج الوهاج (الفتاوى الهندية 1/28)

Answered by:

Mufti Zakaria Makada

Checked & Approved:

Mufti Ebrahim Salejee (Isipingo Beach)