How to perform ghusl
What is ghusl?
Ghusl is the full ritual bath required in Islam to lift major impurity and enter a state of purity. It is not simply washing for physical cleanliness but a spiritual purification, preparing the believer to stand before Allah in a state of dignity and purity.
When ghusl becomes obligatory
Ghusl becomes required in the following situations:
- After marital relations
• After ejaculation (whether awake or during sleep)
• After menstruation ends
• After postpartum bleeding ends
• It is recommended by not obligatory when a person embraces Islam
• When a person dies (as part of washing the deceased)
The minimum required for a valid ghusl
All four Sunni schools agree that a ghusl is valid if two essential acts are completed:
- Niyyah (intention) in the heart to lift major impurity
- Ensuring water reaches every part of the body, including:
• Roots of the hair
• Skin beneath thick hair
• Inside the navel
• Between fingers and toes
The Hanafi madhhab also emphasises rinsing the mouth and nose because they are considered internal parts of the body. The Shafi‘i view classifies mouth and nose rinsing as sunnah, not compulsory.
To be safe and include all opinions, every ghusl should include rinsing the mouth and nose thoroughly.
The sunnah method of ghusl
The Prophet ﷺ taught a complete method of ghusl. This is the most recommended way to perform ghusl.
- Begin with the intention
Make the niyyah in your heart:
“I intend to perform ghusl to lift major impurity.”
No verbal statement is needed. - Say bismillah
As with other acts of purification. - Wash the hands three times
Ensuring water reaches between the fingers. - Wash the private parts
Remove any impurity from the front and back. - Perform a full wudu
Including rinsing the mouth and nose.
You may delay washing the feet until the end if water gathers at your feet. - Pour water over the head three times
Ensuring it reaches the scalp and roots of the hair.
Women do not need to undo braids unless water cannot reach the roots. - Wash the right side of the body then the left
Making sure water reaches every part, including the armpits, behind the knees, between the toes, and inside the navel. - Wash the feet if not washed earlier.
This completes the ghusl of the Prophet ﷺ and is both valid and rewarded.
Important points about ghusl
- Soap and shampoo are allowed but not required.
• Rubbing the body (dalak) is sunnah according to many scholars and obligatory according to Maliki fiqh, but easy to fulfil with normal bathing.
• You do not need to wash each body part three times; one thorough wash is enough.
• A single ghusl may cover multiple intentions (e.g. after janabah and for Jumʿah).
Common reasons ghusl becomes invalid or incomplete
Many people do ghusl incorrectly because:
- Hair roots are not fully wet (and preferably all the hair is saturated, though there is a difference of opinion if this is necessary).
• Back of the neck and ears left dry
• Inside the naval forgotten
• Mouth and nose not rinsed (especially in Hanafi fiqh)
• Artificial barriers on the skin (heavy makeup, waterproof paint, thick creams)
If any required part of the body remains dry, ghusl is incomplete.
Ghusl for women: special notes
- Taking down hair is not required if water can reach the roots.
• During menstruation, ghusl is performed only after bleeding stops.
• It is sunnah to comb water through the hair with fingers.
• Vaginal discharge that is not the ending of menses does not require ghusl (only wudu).
Ghusl without access to water
If no water is available, or using water is harmful due to illness, a person may perform tayammum instead. The intention is the same, and tayammum temporarily replaces ghusl until water becomes available.
How often should ghusl be performed?
Besides times when it is obligatory, it is sunnah or highly recommended:
- Before Jumʿah
• Before entering the state of ihram
• After performing ghusl on the deceased
• On Eid days
• Before major gatherings or worship
Frequent ghusl increases physical cleanliness and spiritual clarity.
Is ghusl valid in standing water?
Can you do ghusl by entering still water in a pond, pool, bucket, bathtub, or container that does not flow? You can, but there are different opinions on how much water is required.
All madhahib agree on two foundational points:
If the standing water is less than two qullahs, it becomes impure if:
- Najasah (filth) falls into it and changes its smell, colour, or taste, or
- A person immerses their body while in a state of janabah according to some madhhabs, because this can render it mustaʿmal (used water).
If the water is two qullahs or more (~270 litres),
Then it does not become impure unless the najasah actually changes one of its qualities.
Two qullahs ≈ 270–275 litres according to classical estimates.
Shafiʿi Madhhab
Ghusl is valid only if the water used is not “used water” (mā’ mustaʿmal).
Standing water less than two qullahs becomes mustaʿmal if:
- A person dips into it while in janabah
- Or they take ghusl inside it
- Or they pour water on themselves and the run-off returns to the same container
- If the water is less than 2 qullahs (~270 L), you cannot perform ghusl inside it.
- You may only scoop/pour from it, provided your used water does not fall back inside.
If more than 2 qullahs:
- You may bathe inside it, and it does NOT become mustaʿmal unless colour/smell/taste changes.
Hanafi Madhhab
The Hanafis differentiate between:
A Small Body of Still Water (< 2 qullahs):
- Performing ghusl inside it makes the water mustaʿmal and therefore invalid for removing major impurity.
- The water becomes “used” once your limb is washed and submerged again.
Thus you must not bathe inside small still water.
A Large Body of Water (≥ 2 qullahs or natural large pond/lake):
- Ghusl inside it is perfectly valid.
- Water does not become used.
Important Hanafi Note:
Many Hanafi scholars say even flowing water, no matter how small, is treated like large water.
Maliki Madhhab
The Malikis have the easiest position regarding standing water.
They do not consider water to become “used” (mustaʿmal) simply by bathing in it.
Standing Water Ruling:
- You may perform ghusl inside any amount of still water, even a small pool,
- As long as no najasah changes its colour, smell, or taste.
So Malikis allow ghusl in a small tub, bucket, or pond, with no concern about mustaʿmal water.
Hanbali Madhhab
The Hanbalis are similar to the Shafiʿis:
Standing water < 2 qullahs:
- Bathing inside it makes the water mustaʿmal and invalid for ghusl.
- You may only scoop water out.
Standing water ≥ 2 qullahs:
- You may enter it and perform ghusl.
- It only becomes impure if najasah changes its qualities.
Ghusl washes the body and refreshes the soul. It prepares the believer to stand before Allah in a state of purity. By learning the prophetic method and performing it with intention and mindfulness, one gains both physical cleanliness and spiritual reward.