There is no set way to do this “properly. ” Just keep your religious intentions in mind in order to satisfy this requirement.
The exception to this rule is that you’re allowed to expose yourself to your marital spouse.
Note that discolored water or water that may contain bodily fluids from animals or humans cannot be used for the ghusl ritual. Make sure to use safe water to perform this ritual, especially if you’re in an area where the sanitation of the local water supply is in question. Use clean earth and rub it over your face and hands if you are traveling and can’t find a source of clean water. This is known as tayammum. Afterwards, perform ghusl with water as soon as you find a water source.
You can also say the longer phrase, Bismillahir-Rahmanir-Raheem, if you wish. This means “In the name of Allah, the most gracious, the most merciful. "
Just like with regular ablution, you should remove nail polish before performing this ritual. Men and women must also remove anything that may prevent water from washing the skin, such as jewelry.
Be sure to do this 3 times to fully purify yourself.
If you have a beard, take a handful of water below your chin and rub it through your beard to wash it. Be sure to wash your ears as part of your head. However, you do not have to wash the inside of your ears during this process.
If you’re using a cup or bucket to pour water over yourself, you may need to pour a liberal amount of water on your body to make sure you wash all of it.
Be aware that missing a single part of your body makes the ritual null. It should be performed in detail with the intention in your heart to become clean. Note that there isn’t scholarly consensus regarding the order in which the ghusl is performed. While most scholars argue that the right side of the body should be washed first, some also claim that the entire body should be washed after the head and face.
When a non-Muslim has converted to Islam. Before commencing Friday prayers. Before commencing Eid prayers. After washing a corpse. Before undertaking a pilgrimage to Mecca. [11] X Research source
This also extends to bleeding after childbirth. If there’s no bleeding afterwards, ghusl should be performed on the 40th day after childbirth.
Note that there is an exception for those who die in battle, who should not be washed in a ghusl ritual.
For example, if a person’s body emits semen as a result of sickness, then that person does not have to perform ghusl. Note that ghusl is not required for merely discharging madhiy (urethral fluid), which sometimes seeps out after thinking of or desiring intercourse. If you’ve had sexual intercourse without ejaculation, you will also need to perform ghusl in this instance.
