Fathwa, - Ghusl is performed after uttering the two testimonies of faith

Question
I converted to Islam but I could not perform Ghusl, so I only uttered
the two testimonies of faith. Afterthe end of menstruation, I made
Ghusl but I did notutter the two testimoniesof faith again. I drew an
analogy between this and a person who had to make Ghusl for prayer but
he could not do that and therefore he prayed without Ghusl. When he
was able, however, he made Ghusl but did not make up the past prayers.
Am I correct? If I am incorrect, what should I do now? May Allaah
Reward you.
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify
that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad
, is His Slave and Messenger.
Ghusl in not a prerequisite for conversion to Islam. Rather, when a
person utters the two testimonies of faith, knowing their meaning and
having firm belief in it, he has become a Muslim and is treated
likeother Muslims unless he does something that invalidates Islam. The
scholars, however, provided two different views whether Ghusl for
conversion to Islam is obligatory (one is punished for abandoning) or
just recommended (one is rewarded for doing but not punished for
abandoning). Given the abundant relevant proofs, the
preponderantopinion is that it is only recommended. Ibn 'Abbaas
narrated that when the Prophet , sent Mu'aath to Yemen, he said to
him: " You are going to a nationfrom the People of the Book, so let
the first thing to which you will invite them is to worship Allaah
Alone. If they learnthat, tell them that Allaah Has Enjoined on them
five prayers to be offeredin one day and one night. If they pray, tell
them that Allaah Has Enjoined on them Zakaahof their properties…. "
[Al-Bukhaari]
This Hadeeth indicates that Ghusl for conversion to Islam is not
obligatory.Had it been obligatory, the Prophet , would have commanded
Mu'aath to order themto do that.
We alert the questioner that this Ghusl should take place after
conversion to Islam by uttering the two testimonies of faith because
it is an act of worship which requires intention and the non-Muslim is
ineligible for this. Consequently, the questioner's behavioris correct
and the drawn analogy is unnecessary.
Allaah Knows best. - - ▓███▓ Translator:->
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