The fiqh of ghusl
When the full ritual bath is required, how to do it, and the minimum each school accepts.
6 minute read · SunnahPanda
Ghusl is the washing of the whole body. Some states, known as major ritual impurity, can only be lifted by ghusl, and until it is done you cannot pray, perform tawaf or touch the mushaf.
When ghusl is obligatory
- After sexual intercourse, even without ejaculation.
- After the emission of sexual fluid with pleasure, whether awake or in a dream.
- When a woman's menstrual bleeding (hayd) ends.
- When post-natal bleeding (nifas) ends.
- For the deceased, which the community washes before the funeral prayer.
Ghusl on entering Islam
The Hanbali school holds that ghusl is obligatory for every new Muslim. The Hanafi, Maliki and Shafi'i schools hold it recommended, but obligatory if the person had been in a state requiring ghusl before accepting Islam, such as after intercourse. In practice that covers most adults, so new Muslims are generally advised to take one.
The sunnah way
This follows the description given by 'A'ishah of how the Prophet ﷺ performed ghusl (Sahih al-Bukhari 248, Sahih Muslim 316):
- 1
Intend
Intend in your heart to lift the state of major impurity.
- 2
Wash the hands
Wash both hands, then wash the private parts and any impurity on the body with the left hand.
- 3
Make wudu
Make a complete wudu as for prayer. You may delay washing the feet until the end.
- 4
Water over the head
Pour water over the head three times, running your fingers through to the roots of the hair.
- 5
The whole body
Pour water over the rest of the body, starting with the right side and then the left, making sure it reaches everywhere, including the navel, the armpits and behind the ears.
- 6
The feet
Wash the feet last if you delayed them.
The minimum that counts
| Hanafi | Maliki | Shafi'i | Hanbali | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Intention | Sunnah | Obligatory | Obligatory | Obligatory |
| Rinsing mouth and nose | Obligatory | Sunnah | Sunnah | Obligatory |
| Water reaching the whole body | Obligatory | Obligatory | Obligatory | Obligatory |
| Rubbing the body | Sunnah | Obligatory | Sunnah | Sunnah |
| Continuity | Sunnah | Obligatory | Sunnah | Sunnah |
Swipe the table to see every column →
Braided hair
A woman does not have to undo tightly braided hair for ghusl after intercourse, provided water reaches the roots (Sahih Muslim 330). Scholars differ on whether this also applies at the end of menstruation.
Good to know
A ghusl done the sunnah way includes wudu, so you can pray straight afterwards without making wudu again, as long as nothing broke it during the bath.
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