Salah guide · purification

How to do ghusl

Ghusl is the full bath that lifts major impurity. Here is when it is required, and how the Prophet ﷺ did it.

Short answer

Ghusl is the full ritual bath. It is required after sexual intercourse or discharge, and at the end of menstruation and postpartum bleeding. Intend it, wash your hands and private parts, make wudu, pour water over your head three times, then wash your whole body, right side first.

When ghusl is required

“If you are in a state of janabah, then purify yourselves” (Qur'an 5:6). Ghusl is required (fard) after:

  • Sexual intercourse, even without emission (Sahih Muslim 348).
  • Emission of sexual fluid with desire, awake or in a dream (Sahih al-Bukhari 282).
  • The end of menstruation (Qur'an 2:222; Sahih al-Bukhari 320).
  • The end of postpartum bleeding (nifas), by consensus.

Until ghusl is done, a person may not pray, do tawaf, or touch the mushaf, and the majority say should not stay in the mosque (Qur'an 4:43).

Recommended (sunnah) ghusl includes before Jumu'ah (Sahih al-Bukhari 877), before the two Eids, before entering ihram, and after washing the dead.

How to do ghusl, step by step

These steps follow the descriptions of 'A'ishah and Maymunah of how the Prophet ﷺ bathed (Sahih al-Bukhari 248 and 249, Sahih Muslim 316 and 317).

  1. Make the intention. Intend in your heart to remove the major impurity (or to do the sunnah ghusl), and say Bismillah.
  2. Wash your hands. Wash both hands three times.
  3. Wash the private parts. Wash the private parts and remove any impurity from the body with the left hand.
  4. Make wudu. Make wudu as for prayer. You may leave washing the feet to the end.
  5. Pour water over your head. Pour water over the head three times, running wet fingers through the hair so it reaches the roots.
  6. Wash the whole body. Pour water over the whole body, starting with the right side, then the left. Make sure no dry spot remains.
  7. Wash your feet. If you left them, wash the feet last, moving aside from where you stood.
Where the schools differ

The minimum valid ghusl: Hanafis require rinsing the mouth and nose and washing the whole body; Hanbalis also require the mouth and nose, plus intention; Shafi'is require intention and water over the whole body; Malikis require intention, water over the whole body, rubbing and continuity.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to make wudu again after ghusl?

No. A complete ghusl includes wudu, and 'A'ishah said the Prophet ﷺ did not make wudu after ghusl (Jami' at-Tirmidhi 107), as long as nothing broke wudu afterwards.

Do women have to undo their braids?

Not for ghusl after intercourse: pouring water three times over the head so it reaches the roots is enough (Sahih Muslim 330). Some scholars recommend undoing them after menstruation.

Is a shower enough for ghusl?

Yes, if you make the intention and water reaches every part of the body, including the mouth and nose for those schools that require it.

Is ghusl required after a wet dream if I see no fluid?

No. Ghusl is required when fluid is seen (Sahih al-Bukhari 282).

The salah guide

How to prayThe full two-rak'ah guide with Arabic, transliteration and meaning.WuduStep by step, what breaks it, and the dua after.How many rakatsEvery prayer, plus Jumu'ah, Eid, Taraweeh and Tahajjud.WitrHow to pray it and the words of Dua al-Qunut.Sajdah sahwThe prostration of forgetfulness, made simple.Jumu'ahThe Friday prayer and the sunnahs of Friday.Missed prayersHow to make up prayers, and a qada estimate.
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This guide explains common practice with its sources. It is not a fatwa. Where your situation is unusual, ask a scholar you trust.