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Fatwa CenterGargling in Ghusl and ablution
Question
I used to gargle during Ghusl (ritual shower), thinking that it had to be done, although only rinsing the mouth is required; is my ghusl valid? I am very worried. I also used to gargle during ablution.
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad 
is His slave and Messenger.
Washing the inside of the mouth when performing Ghusl is an issue of difference of opinion among the scholars. The Kuwaiti Fiqh Encyclopedia reads:
“The scholars of Fiqh agreed that making the water reach the entire body is obligatory in Ghusl because it is one of the pillars of Ghusl that one makes the water reach the entire body, but they differed in opinion in regard to the inside of the mouth and nose; the Hanafi and Hanbali Schools said, ‘It is part of the body;’ so rinsing the mouth and sniffing water into the nostrils is obligatory in Ghusl according to them. However, the Maaliki and Shaafi'i Schools said, ‘It is obligatory to wash the outside of the body only, so it is not obligatory to rinse the mouth or sniff water in Ghusl.’”
The scholars of Fiqh define gargling as exaggerating in rinsing the mouth; the Kuwaiti Fiqh Encyclopedia also reads, “Exaggerating in rinsing the mouth, which is done by gargling, is among the recommended acts in ablution according to the Maaliki and Hanbali Schools; and this is also the stronger view in the Hanafi School. According to the Shaafi'i School and the other view of the Hanafi School, exaggerating in rinsing the mouth is a Sunnah act of ablution.”
Based on the above, your Ghusl is valid in all cases, and now you know the ruling of gargling when performing ablution.
Allah knows best.
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