There are two types of Ghusl
One that is required and one that is recommended as done by the Prophet Peace Be Upon Him.
Obligatory Ghusl
The one that’s required and sufficient form is as follows:
- Have the intention to purify yourself from Janabah (impurity following intercourse), menstruation, or Nifas (postpartum bleeding).
According to the right scholarly opinion, you should wash your complete body with water once, making sure the water gets to the backs of your knees and armpits as well as the roots of your hair. You should also rinse your mouth and nose.
Complete Ghusl (sunnah)
- Establish the intention in your heart to cleanse yourself of major impurities such as Janabah (impurity after sexual discharge), menstruation, or Nifas (postpartum hemorrhage).
- Say Bismillah and wash your hands three times, then cleanse any filth from your private parts.
- Perform wudu exactly like for prayer, complete wudu.
- Pour water over your head three times and rub your hair so that the water reaches the roots.
- Wash the body, ensuring that the water reaches all regions, beginning with the right side and then the left, and rubbing it with your hands to ensure that the water reaches the complete body.
Narrated `Aisha: Whenever the Prophet took a bath after Janaba he started by washing his hands and then performed ablution like that for the prayer. After that he would put his fingers in water and move the roots of his hair with them, and then pour three handfuls of water over his head and then pour water all over his body.
Narrated Maimuna: I placed water for the bath of the Prophet. He washed his hands twice or thrice and then poured water on his left hand and washed his private parts. He rubbed his hands over the earth (and cleaned them), rinsed his mouth, washed his nose by putting water in it and blowing it out, washed his face and both forearms and then poured water over his body. Then he withdrew from that place and washed his feet.
ghusl after mensturation
Muslim (332) narrated from ‘Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) that Asma asked the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) about ghusl following menses. He said: “Let one of you take her water and lotus leaves and clean herself well, then let her pour water over her head and rub it vigorously so that it will reach the roots of her hair. Then let her pour the water over herself, then take a piece of cloth scented with musk and purify herself.” Asma said: How should she purify herself? He said: “Subhan-Allah! Purify yourself with it.” ‘Aishah said – as if she whispered it to her – Follow the traces of blood. And she asked him about ghusl in the case of janabah. He said: “Let her take water and clean herself well – or clean herself thoroughly – then let her pour water over her head and rub it so that it reaches the roots of the hair, then let her pour water over herself.” ‘Aishah said: How good the women of the Ansar were! They did not let shyness prevent them from understanding their religion properly.
