Ghusl

Ghusl can be broken down into three categories:

1. Obligatory (farḍ), when any one of the following things occur:
   1. The emission of sperm/sexual fluid (manī)
   2. The disappearance of the head of the male organ into the female organ [even if without omission of sexual fluid]
   3. The ending of menstruation or postnatal bleeding
2. Mandatory (wājib), for someone who becomes Muslim while in a state of major ritual impurity, although the sounder opinion is that the bath is obligatory (farḍ) on them, not mandatory (wājib)
3. Recommended (nafl), for any of the following reasons:
   1. The Friday prayer (Jumu’ah)
   2. The two Eid prayers
   3. Entering into the state of pilgrim sanctity (ihrām)
   4. The Day of ‘Arafāh
   5. Entering Makkah
   6. Entering Madīnah, the illuminated city
   7. Visiting the Prophet ﷺ

Obligatory Integrals:

1. Rinsing the mouth [once]
2. Rinsing the nose [once]
3. Washing whatever is possible, without undue difficulty or hardship, of the entire body [once]

Emphasized Sunnahs:

1. Intention (niyyah)
2. Washing the hands until the wrists
3. Washing one’s private parts [front and rear]
4. Washing off any filth from the body
5. Performing wuḍū’ first, followed by pouring water over the entire body, starting with the head [for a total of three times]

How to Perform Ghusl (step-by-step):

1. Before performing the ritual bath itself, it is preferred to first perform the emphasized sunnahs detailed above
2. Wash your entire body three times, starting each time from the head, followed by the right side of the body, then the left, until you reach the toes
3. It is an emphasized sunnah to rub one’s body the first time. There is no harm in using soap and the like during the ritual bath
4. It is important to note that the following are disliked and should be avoided while performing ghusl:
   1. Facing the qiblah (direction of prayer) or supplicating during the ritual bath
   2. Wasting water (excessive waste of water is sinful, while wasting is generally blameworthy)