Is ghusl made in a bathtub or small pond in which there is no impurity (najasah) valid?

Dear Brother / Sister,

- Ghusl becomes valid if a person enters a pond or a big bathtub once. However, the water capacity of the pond or bathtub is important:

According to Shafiis, it is necessary for water to be clean and to remain clean in a place to amount to at least two qulla about two hundred and six (206) litres (İSAM İlmihal, 1/189) or according to some scholars, 270 litres (al-Fiqhul-Islami, 1/122).

According to Hanafis, it is necessary for the surface of water to amount to 50 m2 and the depth of the water to be deep enough for the hand not to touch the bottom when water is taken with palms.  

- If a person washes some of his organs with the intention of ghusl in a pond or bathtub whose water capacity is less than the amounts mentioned above, the water becomes used water and loses its property of spiritual cleaning and is no longer suitable to wash the other organs of the body for ghusl. (W. Zuhayli, al-Fiqhul-Islami, 1/122-126; İSAM, İlmihal, 1/188-189)

Accordingly, if a person enters a clean bathtub or pond whose water capacity is low with the whole body without putting any of his organs in it before, his ghusl is valid since the water is clean and his whole body gets wet. In addition, he needs to wash his mouth and inside his nose with some unused water.

The best and safest way is to make ghusl by standing out of such small ponds and bathtubs and by taking water through the hand or a stoup, mug, etc. from the pond or bathtub.

Questions on Islam