Ghusl for men and women 

Ghusl, which is washing the entire body with water, has the basic rule with regard to it in this aya: 

{And if you are in a state of sexual impurity (Janaabah), then purify yourselves (i.e. wash your entire bodies).} [Surah Al-Maa'idah: 6] 

__________________________ 

Occasions when Ghusl is Required as an obligatory Act 
Ghusl is required as an obligatory act in the following cases: 


1- After the discharge of semen as a result of stimulation whether awake or asleep (i.e. in a wet dream), whether from sexual intercourse or from masturbation, for the man and the woman. This state is known in Arabic as "JUNUB". If, after the dream no wetness is traced in one's clothing, bathing is not obligatory. However, in case wetness is found but without recalling any dream, performing Ghusl is obligatory. This is based on the hadeeth of Umm Salamah, who reported that Umm Sulaim, the wife of Abu Talha, asked Allaah�s Messenger (sallAllaahu 'alayhi wa sallam), saying: �Allaah is not shy when it comes to the truth. So is it obligatory for a woman to perform ghusl if she has a wet dream (i.e. seminal fluid comes out)?� The Prophet (sallAllaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) responded: �Yes, if she sees the fluid.� This hadeeth is reported by Al-Bukhaaree and Muslim. 
____________________ 

2- After sexual intercourse performing Ghusl is required. It is to be done after sexual intercourse, regardless of whether one ejaculated or not. A male is obligated to perform ghusl if just the head of his private organ enters (the female private organ), even if it is for one second. This is based on the hadeeth of Abu Hurairah (radyAllaahu anhu) who said: Allaah's Messenger (sallAllaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) said: When a man sits in between the four parts of a woman and enters into her (for intercourse), the ghusl becomes obligatory. Reported by Al-Bukhaaree and Muslim. In Muslim�s report, there is the addition: ��even if he doesn�t ejaculate.� The women falls under the same ruling as the man in this regard. 
__________________________________ 

3- Following a period of menstruation, a woman is required to perform Ghusl. 

________________________ 

4- At the end of the days after childbirth, a woman is required to perform Ghusl but if the bleeding stops before completing the 40 days period, then she must make the Ghusl as soon as the bleeding stops. 

________________________ 

5- When a Muslim dies, Ghusl is required for him/her except for the Jihad Martyr (Shaheed). 
Occasions for which Ghusl is preferred 

____________________________________________ 

Ghusl is recommended in the following cases: 

Before going to Jummah Congregational (Friday Prayer). 
Before going to Eid Prayers (Muslim annual feast prayers). 
Before undertaking Umrah or Hajj (Pilgrimage to Makkah). 
Upon washing a corpse. (According to many scholars, the performance of Ghusl is preferred for a person who washes a corpse). 

Description of how to do ghusl for major impurity 

There are two forms of ghusl: 

1-Acceptable form: in the sense that if a person only does ghusl in this manner, his ghusl is valid and he becomes purified from major impurity. But if a person misses this kind of ghusl properly, his ghusl is not valid. 

2- Complete and preferred form: this is the type which it is mustahabb to do but is not obligatory. 


As for the obligatory and acceptable form it is as follows: 

1. Form the intention to purify oneself from impurity: janaabah (impurity following sexual discharge), menses or nifaas (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. 


As for the complete form, it is as follows 

1. Form the intention in the heart to purify oneself from major impurity: janaabah (impurity following sexual discharge), menses or nifaas (postpartum bleeding). 

2. Then say Bismillah and wash the hands three times, then wash any dirt from the private part. 

Saying Bismillah when doing ghusl and wudoo� is mustahabb according to the majority of fuqaha�, 

3. Then do wudoo� as for prayer, a complete wudoo�. 

Rinsing the mouth and nose is obligatory in ghusl, and that is a condition of it being valid. 

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: 

It was narrated that �Aa�ishah (may Allaah be pleased with her) said: When the Messenger of Allaah (blessings and peace of Allaah be upon him) did ghusl for janaabah, he would wash his hands and do wudoo� 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-Bukhaari (248) and Muslim (316). 

ghusl following menses 

There is no difference between ghusl in the case of janaabah and ghusl following menses except that it is more mustahabb to rub the hair in the case of ghusl following menses than in the case of ghusl following janaabah. It is also mustahabb for the woman to apply perfume to the site of bleeding, to remove any unpleasant smell. 

Muslim (332) narrated from �Aa�ishah (may Allaah be pleased with her) that Asma� asked the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah 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: �Subhaan-Allaah! Purify yourself with it.� �Aa�ishah said � as if she whispered it to her � Follow the traces of blood. And she asked him about ghusl in the case of janaabah. 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.� �Aa�ishah said: How good the woman of the Ansaar were! They did not let shyness prevent them from understanding their religion properly. 

So the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) differentiated between ghusl following menses and ghusl following janaabah, with regard to rubbing the hair and applying perfume. 

Special Note for women

 The Ghusl for men and women is essential same. Women who have braids can do ghusl without haveing to undo their hair if they are in Jannabah (sexual impurity). However if they are impure due to Menstruation or Nifass (post Natel bleeding ) then they should open their hair before doing ghusl.