ISLAM

ANOTHER GHUSL STEP

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Many cultures and faiths have specific rules around bathing and self-care regarding menstruation. In Islam, a menstruating female is excused from the ritual daily prayers. . Note: Medically, the first day of your period is when you have continuous free flow, not just spotting. There may be a difference of 1-2 days between the "medical" first day and the "Islamic" first day. For more information on how to track your cycle, please click here:

Upon completion of menstruation, the female is required to take a ritual bath to begin praying her five daily prayers. This bath is fairly simple, but there are a few obligatory acts that need to be met to be considered ritually pure. Below, we have included a step by step of the process.

Step 1: Intention (Niyyah)

The intention to make ghusl is NOT obligatory, just recommended (sunnah). In other words, if you forget to make the intention before beginning, it does not mean that your ghusl does not count.

Step 2: The Three Requirements of Ghusl

There are three requirements that are obligatory (fard) to meet in ghusl. They are:

Passing water through the mouth (gargling)Passing water through the nostrilsPassing water over the entire body, including your hair

It is important to note if even one hair is left dry, your ghusl is incomplete. Use sufficient water, without being wasteful, but also without being frugal.

Step 3: The Five Recommended Acts of Ghusl

There are five recommended acts (sunnah) of ghusl. Your ghusl is still valid if you do not actively do these, but they are recommended.

Washing hands up to the wristsWashing the private parts and the parts over which uncleanliness is foundIntentionMaking wudu (ablution) before washing the bodyPassing water over the whole body three times.

How to perform Ghusl:Make an intention for purificationWash the private partsMake Wudhoo' (ablution) like the Wudhoo' done for prayerPour water first on the right side, then the left side.Pour water on the head, covering the entire body with waterWashing the feet should be delayed until the end of the Ghusl.

It is reported on the authority of Aa'ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, who said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ when performing Ghusl from Janaabah (ritual impurity), used to wash his hands, then wash his private parts with his left hand. After that he performed Wudhoo' like that for prayer. Next, he took some water and ran his fingers in the roots of his hair until he used three handfuls of water on his head. He would then go on pouring water on the rest of his body and wash his legs. [Muslim]

Points to remember

The person taking a bath should first of all wash both hands up to the wrists, and then wash the private parts. The hands and private parts should be washed irrespective of whether there is any impurity on them or not. Both these have to be washed under all conditions. Thereafter, any impurity found on the rest of the body should be washed. Then make Wudhoo'. If one is sitting on a stool or stone while bathing, then the feet should also be washed when making Wudhoo'. But if one is sitting in a place where the water accumulates and he will have to wash the feet again after completing the Ghusl, then the entire Wudhoo' should be made but the feet should not be washed.

After performing Wudhoo', pour water on the head three times. Thereafter pour water over the right and left shoulders three times each in such a way that water reaches the entire body. Thereafter move from this place and go to a clean spot and wash the feet. If the feet were washed when making Wudhoo' there will be no need to wash them again.