The term "niat mandi wajib setelah haid" is a noun phrase in Islamic jurisprudence (fiqh) referring to the specific, conscious intention a Muslim woman makes to perform the obligatory ritual bath (ghusl) to purify herself from the state of major ritual impurity (hadath al-akbar) following the cessation of her menstrual cycle (haid). This intention is a foundational pillar (rukn) of the purification ritual, distinguishing the act as a form of worship rather than a mundane act of cleaning. Its purpose is to restore her ritual purity, thereby permitting her to resume religious obligations such as prayer (salah), fasting (sawm), and reciting the Qur'an from the mushaf.
The core component of this concept is the "niat" (intention), which must be present in the heart at the commencement of the ghusl. While the specific wording can vary, a commonly articulated formula in Arabic is: "Nawaitul ghusla liraf'il hadatsil akbari minal haidhi fardhan lillahi ta'ala." This translates to, "I intend to perform the obligatory bath to lift the major impurity from menstruation, as an obligation for Allah, the Most High." The validity of the ghusl is contingent upon this intention being correctly established; it must specifically be for removing the impurity caused by menstruation, as opposed to other reasons for ghusl, such as janabah (post-coital impurity).
In practical application, this intention is the spiritual and legal trigger that validates the entire physical process of the ritual bath. Without the correct and sincere intention formulated in the mind, the act of washing the entire body with water would not fulfill the religious requirement for purification. Therefore, the formulation of this intention is the critical first step that precedes the physical washing, ensuring the act is recognized as a fulfillment of a divine command and is effective in transitioning the individual from a state of ritual impurity to a state of purity (taharah).
