Ghusl is the ritual bath performed by Muslims to remove the majority of impurity such as when there is an emission of maniy (semen) even if it is not through intercourse; meeting of the two circumcised parts when the tip of the penis disappears completely in the vagina, even if no ejaculation takes place; menstruation and nifaas (postpartum bleeding); before Jumuah etc. Unfortunately, many Muslims do not know how to perform this bath. In this thread, you are going to learn how to perform Ghusl.
How to perform Ghusl
1- Form the intention to purify oneself from impurity: janabah (impurity following sexual discharge), menses or nifas (postpartum bleeding).
2- Wash the entire body with water once, making sure that the water reaches the roots of the hair and the places that it cannot reach easily, such as the armpits and backs of the knees, as well as rinsing the mouth and nose, according to the correct scholarly opinion.
Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (may Allah have mercy on him) said in al-Sharh al-Mumti’ (1/423):
“The evidence that this ghusl is valid is the words of Allah (interpretation of the meaning): “If you are in a state of Janabah (i.e. after a sexual discharge), purify yourselves (bathe your whole body)” [al-Maidah 5:6].
Allah did not mention anything apart from that. If a person washes his entire body once, then it is true to say that he has purified himself.”
How to make the complete form of ghusl
As for the complete form, it is as follows
1. Form the intention in the heart to purify oneself from major impurity: janabah (impurity following sexual discharge), menses or nifas (postpartum bleeding).
2. Then say Bismillah and wash the hands three times, then wash any dirt from the private part.
3. Then do wudu as for prayer, a complete wudu.
4. Then pour water over the head three times, and rub the hair so that the water reaches the roots of the hair.
5. Then wash the body, making sure that the water reaches all parts, starting with the right side of the body and then the left, and rubbing it with the hands so that the water reaches the entire body.
The evidence for this mustahabb form of ghusl is:
‘Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) said: When the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) did ghusl for janaabah, he would wash his hands and do wudu as for prayer, then he would wash himself, then he would run his fingers through his hair, then when he thought that it [the water] had reached his skin, he would pour water over it [the head] three times, then he would wash the rest of his body. (Narrated by al-Bukhari (248) and Muslim (316))
‘Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) also said: When the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) did ghusl from janabah, he would call for something like a vessel used for milking and take water in his palm. He started with the right side of his head, then the left, then he took water in both palms and poured it all over his head. (Narrated by al-Bukhari (258) and Muslim (318))
One of the important rulings concerning this matter is that ghusl for major impurity takes the place of wudu’, so the person who has done ghusl, whether the complete or the acceptable form, does not have to repeat wudu, unless he does something that invalidates purity whilst doing ghusl.
And Allah knows best.
