How to Ghusl? Complete Guide Purification Bath in Islam

‘Ghusl’ is an Arabic word that is used to refer to the ritual of full-body purification ritual in Islam. It is a mandatory ritual that is required, before performing any religious act, prayer, and after completion of the menstruation cycle or sexual activity. Ghusl plays an important role in any form of pilgrimage i.e., Umrah or Hajj pilgrimage. It is important to perform Ghusl before a significant step before visiting the house of God.

Before comprehending how to do ghusl, it is important to understand the term wudu. Wudu can be defined as an important ritual of cleaning parts of the body before performing any religious prayer. The process of wudu involves washing hands, mouth, nostrils, arms, face, ears, hair, and feet. Governed by fiqh or Islamic moral philosophy, which defines the rules regarding hygiene and the rituals that are part of it, Wudu is an important aspect of the purity ritual in the Islamic religion. Wudu can be invalidated by actions like excretion, deep sleep, light bleeding, period,  urination, and sexual intercourse. Though wudu can be referred to as partial ablution, ghusl on the other hand is 'full ablution' where the whole body is washed.

Water that is used in wudu or Ghusl needs to be pure. In this context, pure refers to the water from melted snow or hail, water from an ocean, lake, pond, or well. Water that is contaminated by urine, blood, stool, animal, or made from trees or fruits is prohibited for Ghusl.

The acts that are advised to perform wudu but are not mandatory are listed below:

• Chanting the shahada after the ablution

• Not engaging in any worldly conversation

• Ablution must be performed in a clean place

• Do not wastewater

• Begin from the right side

• Perform any dhikr like Istighfar that brings one closer to Allah

Ghusl guide, Steps involved

The first step before entering a purification bath i.e., Ghusl is to recite Ghusl Dua or Niyyah i.e., the intention of performing the act. Although there are no rewards received after reciting the Ghusl Dua or stating the intention, it is also suggested not to recite any Aayah or Kalimah during the ritual.

Ghusl steps are mentioned below:

1. Recite Niyyah or the intention to perform Ghusl

2. Saying Bismillah

3. Rinse the hands thrice

4. Private parts to be washed thoroughly

5. Wudu or ablution to be performed as done before the daily prayers except that the feet should not be washed

6. Begin the bath from the right side i.e., pouring water on the right side, then the left side.

7. Water on the head is to be poured thoroughly so that it reaches the scalp and covers the entire body. While men should also clean their bear women should wash their hair thoroughly.

8. Washing of feet is the last step

The important points that should be considered before performing the ritual of Ghusl are:

• Start by washing both the hands up to the wrists and then washing the private parts regardless of any impurity on them or not.

• Before pouring the water, the body should be rubbed thoroughly.

• The whole act of ghusl should be performed facing toward the holy Kaaba. The water that is required should be used neither too less that one is unable to wash nor should too much.

• One should refrain from any talks while bathing also that no one sees the bathing person.

• Feet should be washed in the end after one should cover himself.

Hence, Ghusl and Wudu both are the beginning act of a journey toward Allah. They are the first step in getting ready to remember and pray to Allah and to develop faith and devotion to the Almighty and is hence an extremely important ritual in Islam. The ablution performed with all necessary steps will certainly make a pilgrim clean and pure to enter the holy house of Allah, the almighty.