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Fatwa CenterGhusl 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. After the end of menstruation, I made Ghusl but I did not utter the two testimonies of 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, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, 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 like other 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 preponderant opinion is that it is only recommended. Ibn ‘Abbaas 
narrated that when the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, sent Mu‘aath 
to Yemen, he said to him: "You are going to a nation from the People of the Book, so let the first thing to which you will invite them is to worship Allaah Alone. If they learn that, tell them that Allaah Has Enjoined on them five prayers to be offered in one day and one night. If they pray, tell them that Allaah Has Enjoined on them Zakah of their properties…." [Al-Bukhari]
This Hadeeth indicates that Ghusl for conversion to Islam is not obligatory. Had it been obligatory, the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, would have commanded Mu‘aath to order them to 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 behavior is correct and the drawn analogy is unnecessary.
Allaah Knows best.
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