Prayer guide
Ghusl — The Major Purification
Ghusl is the full ritual washing required after janabah (a state of major impurity — caused by intercourse, the emission of mani, the end of menses or post-natal bleeding), and is highly recommended on Fridays, the two Eids, and after washing the dead.
When Ghusl is Obligatory
Five situations make ghusl obligatory: (1) Janabah — sexual intercourse or the emission of mani whether asleep or awake; (2) the end of menses (hayd); (3) the end of post-natal bleeding (nifas); (4) entering Islam after kufr (per the Sunnah — Abu Dawud 355); (5) for the deceased, before janazah (the living wash the dead). Allah's command: 'If you are in a state of janabah, then purify yourselves [completely].' (Qur'an 5:6).
The Prophet's ﷺ Ghusl
Aisha described his ghusl: 'When the Prophet ﷺ wanted to perform ghusl from janabah, he would first wash his hands, then perform wudu as for prayer, then dip his fingers in water and run them through the roots of his hair until the scalp was wet, then pour three handfuls of water over his head, then pour water over the rest of his body.' (Bukhari 248, Muslim 316). The order: hands → private parts (washed clean) → wudu (except feet, which can be left for the end) → wet the scalp → water over the whole body → wash the feet at the end. The full body must be reached by water, including under the hair if it is loose; under tight braids the scalp wetting suffices.
Ghusl on Fridays
The Prophet ﷺ said: 'Ghusl on Friday is wajib upon every Muslim who has reached puberty.' (Bukhari 858, Muslim 846). The majority of scholars read wajib here as 'strongly emphasized Sunnah' rather than strict obligation — but the strong wording indicates how much it is loved. The Prophet ﷺ said: 'Whoever performs the Friday ghusl, then comes to the masjid early, his sins are forgiven between this Jumu'ah and the next.' (Bukhari 883).
Tayammum in Lieu of Ghusl
If water is unavailable or would cause harm, tayammum replaces ghusl in the same way it replaces wudu — once, for the next prayer or as needed. The verse of tayammum (5:6) covers both. The Companion Imran ibn Husayn was once told by the Prophet ﷺ, when he was injured and could not use water: 'You must use the earth — that is sufficient for you.' (Bukhari 348).