Ghusl

Ghusl (غسل) is an Arabic term referring to the full ablution (ritual washing) required in Islam for various rituals and prayers. The ablution becomes mandatory for any adult Muslim after having sexual intercourse, any sexual discharge (e.g. of semen), completion of the menstrual cycle, giving birth, and death by natural causes.

Islam also recommends (i.e. it is mustahab) the performance of the full ablution before the Friday and Eid prayers, before entering the ehram, in preparation for hajj, after having lost consciousness,

Farā'id of Ghusl

There are three fard (obligatory) acts. If one of these acts is omitted, it must be returned to and then completion of the successive acts are to be performed.

Rinsing the inner mouth.

Sniffing water and blowing it out.

To wash the entire body in such a manner that not even an area equal to a strand of hair be left dry. If this is not done properly, then Ghusl will not be done.

Sunnah of Ghusl

Sunnah (Optional - practised by Muhammad(s.a.w) according to Sunni Hadiths) acts.

Washing both the hands up to the wrists.

Wash the private parts and remove dirt or filth from the body.

Perform Wudu.

Water should be poured over the head three times so that it flows all over the body.

Method of performance

In Islam, ghusl requires the washing of the full body. There are some differences in details between the Sunni and the Shia schools of thought.

Sunni school of thought

#Start by making niyyah (intention) to perform Ghusl and cleanse thy self of impurities. #Wash the right hand up to and including the wrist (and between the fingers) three times, then similarly for the left hand. #Wash the private parts and remove dirt or filth from the body. #Perform Wudu. Ensure that the mouth and nostrils are thoroughly rinsed THRICE. If sitting on a stool or stone while bathing then the feet should also be washed when performing Wudu. But if sitting in a muddy place, feet should not be washed at this stage. #Water should be poured over the head three times so that it flows all over the body. #Pour water over both the shoulders three times each. Hands should be passed all over the body when water is poured so that no part of the body is left dry. #Move to a clean spot and wash the feet if not washed during Wudu

If, after Ghusl, one recalls that a certain portion of the body is left dry, it is not necessary to repeat the Ghusl, but merely wash the dry portion. It is not sufficient to pass a wet hand over the dry place. If one has forgotten to rinse the mouth or the nostrils, these too could be rinsed when recalled after Ghusl has been performed.

The following ahadith describe how ghusl should be performed by Sunni Muslims.

Ghusl should be made in a place of total privacy

In another hadith, ibn Abbas stated that Maimuna said that The Messenger of Allah was given a towel (after ghusl), but he did not rub his body with it, but he did like this with water (i.e. he shook it off). In addition, ibn Abbas recorded the following hadith on the authority of his mother's sister.

Similarly, Muhammad ibn Saalih al-Uthaymeen said, "Sufficient ghusl means that you rinse your mouth and nose, then you wash your entire body with water, even if that means plunging yourself into deep water in one go.

Complete ghusl means washing your private parts and anywhere else that is contaminated with traces of impurity, then you do full head, then you pour water over your head three times, making sure that it reaches the roots of the hair. Then you wash the right side of the body then the left side."

Shia school of thought

According to the Shia school there are two main methods of performing a ghusl. For both methods one has to begin with niyyah, the intention to remove any impurities. Irtimasi: One has to submerge the entire body in pure water, either at once or in stages.

Tartibi:

1. Water should be poured over the head to neck three times with the niyyah.

2. Pour water over both the shoulders three times each with the niyyah. Hands should be passed all over the body when water is poured so that no part of the body is left dry.

See also

Mikvah, the Jewish ritual bath

References

External links

Ghusl in the Qur’an, hadith and fiqh (Islamic jurisprudence)

Sahih Bukhari, Book 5: Bathing (Ghusl) Prophet performing Ghusl

Ghusl details from Teachings of Islam (Talim-ul-Haq)

IS YOUR GHUSL CORRECT?

Ghusl: Obligatory Baths

GHUSL (COMPLETE BATH) The University of Southern California

Category:Islamic terms Category:Salat Category:Muslim purity law