Have you ever wondered how to perform ghusl correctly and easily? In this article, you’ll find a simplified and clear guide that explains the steps of ghusl for both men and women according to the Sunnah, along with clarification on the situations that require ghusl and those that do not.
Ghusl meaning
Linguistically, ghusl means pouring water over something, whether it’s the body or anything else.
Islamically, Ghusl meaning refers to pouring water over the entire body from head to toe. It becomes obligatory in cases of major ritual impurity (janabah) and at the end of menstruation or postpartum bleeding.
Ghusl from janabah means washing the entire body with water while intending to remove the state of major ritual impurity caused by sexual activity. The purpose of ghusl is to ensure that water reaches every part of the body, making it pure and allowing the person to perform acts of worship that require purification.
What are the Ghusl requirements for women and men?
The ghusl requirements for women and men include the following:
- The emission of semen while awake or asleep, whether from a man or a woman.
- The cessation of menstruation or postpartum bleeding for women, as indicated in the verse:
“وَلَا تَقْرَبُوهُنَّ حَتَّىٰ يَطْهُرْنَ ۖ فَإِذَا تَطَهَّرْنَ فَأْتُوهُنَّ مِنْ حَيْثُ أَمَرَكُمُ ٱللَّهُ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُحِبُّ ٱلتَّوَّٰبِينَ وَيُحِبُّ ٱلْمُتَطَهِّرِينَ ٢٢٢”
“and do not have intercourse with your wives during their monthly cycles until they are purified.1 When they purify themselves, then you may approach them in the manner specified by Allah. Surely Allah loves those who always turn to Him in repentance and those who purify themselves.”
- Sexual intercourse (i.e. penetration), even if ejaculation does not occur.
As mentioned in the hadith:
عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، قَالَتْ قَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم ” إِذَا جَاوَزَ الْخِتَانُ الْخِتَانَ وَجَبَ الْغُسْلُ ”
. Aishah narrated that: the Prophet said: “When the circumcised meets the circumcised then Ghusl is required.”
- Ghusl is also required after death, this refers to washing the deceased.
- It is also required upon embracing Islam.
When is ghusl not required?
There are several situations when is ghusl not required, including:
- When semen exits the body without pleasure (e.g., due to a medical condition).
- After physical intimacy between spouses without penetration or ejaculation.
- If a person has a sexual dream (Ehtelam) but does not find any trace of discharge.
As narrated in the hadith:
وَعَنْ أُمِّ سَلَمَةَ قَالَتْ قَالَتْ أُمُّ سُلَيْمٍ: يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يَسْتَحْيِي مِنَ الْحَقِّ فَهَلْ عَلَى الْمَرْأَةِ من غسل إِذا احْتَلَمت قَالَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ «إِذَا رَأَتِ الْمَاءَ»
فَغَطَّتْ أُمُّ سَلَمَةَ وَجْهَهَا وَقَالَتْ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَوَتَحْتَلِمُ الْمَرْأَةُ قَالَ: «نعم تربت يَمِينك فَبِمَ يشبهها وَلَدهَا؟»
Umm Salama told how Umm Sulaim said, “Messenger of God, God is not ashamed of the truth. Is any washing necessary for a woman when she has a sexual dream?” He replied, “Yes, when she sees signs of liquid.” Umm Salama then covered her face and said, “Messenger of God, does a woman have sexual dreams?” He replied, “Of course she does. In what way does her child resemble her?”
How to Make Ghusl for Woman?
Many Muslim women ask: how to make Ghusl for woman? Here’s a step-by-step guide:
- Intention: Make the intention (niyyah) for ghusl.
- Wash both hands three times.
- Clean the private parts after intercourse or menstruation/postpartum bleeding.
- Pour water from the right hand onto the left to wash the private area.
- Perform ablution (wudu) as for prayer, and delay washing the feet until the end.
- Wash the hair three times, ensuring water reaches the roots.
- Wash the right side of the body completely.
- Wash the left side of the body completely.
- Wash the feet.
If a woman has braided hair, she is not required to undo it during ghusl as long as water reaches the roots, as mentioned in the hadith:
وَعَنْ أُمِّ سَلَمَةَ قَالَتْ قُلْتُ: يَا رَسُولَ الله إِنِّي امْرَأَة أَشد ضفر رَأْسِي فأنقضه لغسل الْجَنَابَة قَالَ «لَا إِنَّمَا يَكْفِيكِ أَنْ تَحْثِي عَلَى رَأْسِكِ ثَلَاثَ حَثَيَاتٍ ثُمَّ تُفِيضِينَ عَلَيْكِ الْمَاءَ فَتَطْهُرِينَ»
Umm Salama said she told God’s messenger that she kept her hair closely plaited, and asked whether she should undo it when washing after sexual defilement. He replied, “No, it is enough for you to throw three handfuls over your head, then pour water over yourself, and you will be purified.”
How to Perform Ghusl for Male?
One of the common questions among Muslim men is how to perform ghusl for male? Or how to do ghusl properly after janabah?
Here are the steps:
- Intention: Make the intention for ghusl.
- Wash both hands three times.
- Pour water with the right hand onto the left and wash the private parts, then wash the hands.
- Perform ablution (wudu) as for prayer, delaying the feet until the end.
- Wash the hair three times, running fingers through the roots.
- Wash the right side of the body completely.
- Wash the left side of the body completely.
- Wash the feet.
As narrated in the hadith:
عَنْ عَائِشَةَ رَضِيَ اَللَّهُ عَنْهَا قَالَتْ: “كَانَ رَسُولُ اَللَّهِ - صلى الله عليه وسلم - إِذَا اِغْتَسَلَ مِنْ اَلْجَنَابَةِ يَبْدَأُ فَيَغْسِلُ يَدَيْهِ, ثُمَّ يُفْرِغُ بِيَمِينِهِ عَلَى شِمَالِهِ, فَيَغْسِلُ فَرْجَهُ, ثُمَّ يَتَوَضَّأُ, ثُمَّ يَأْخُذُ اَلْمَاءَ, فَيُدْخِلُ أَصَابِعَهُ فِي أُصُولِ اَلشَّعْرِ, ثُمَّ حَفَنَ عَلَى رَأْسِهِ ثَلَاثَ حَفَنَاتٍ, ثُمَّ أَفَاضَ عَلَى سَائِرِ جَسَدِهِ, ثُمَّ غَسَلَ رِجْلَيْهِ”
Narrated ‘Aisha (rad): Whenever Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) took Ghusl (bath) after sexual intercourse, he would begin by washing his hands, then pour water with his right hand on his left hand and wash his sexual organ. He would then perform ablution, then take some water and run his fingers through the roots of the hair. Then he would pour three handfuls on his head, then pour water over the rest of his body and subsequently wash his feet.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, understanding how to perform Ghusl enhances a Muslim’s purity and enables them to carry out their acts of worship correctly. By following the clear steps outlined above, every Muslim man and woman can practice ghusl according to the Sunnah, with awareness of the situations that require it and those that don’t.
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