Sometimes I do ghusl for janaabah (impurity following sexual activity) or menstruation, and I do not wash my hair because it is braided. What is the ruling on that?
Praise be to Allaah.
This is a serious mistake
and it is not permissible to do that. Therefore the prayer is not valid.
You have to wash all of your body, including the hair, as stated in the
hadeeth of Umm Salamah (may Allaah be pleased with he) who said: “I
said, ‘O Messenger of Allaah, I am a woman who braids her hair –
should I undo it to do ghusl for janaabah?’ He said, ‘No, it is
sufficient for you to pour water over your head three times.’” (Narrated
by Muslim, no. 330). If your hair
is braided then you can wash it and make sure that the water reaches the
roots as well was washing the rest of it. This is essential. Your prayers
are not valid because you did not do ghusl from janaabah properly. One of
the conditions of ghusl from janaabah is that water should reach every
part of the body, including the hair. The same applies to ghusl following
menstruation or post-natal bleeding.
You have to repeat the prayers which you prayed when you had not washed your hair when doing ghusl following janaabah or menstruation. And Allaah knows best.