How to Do Ghusl: Ghusl Steps in Islam

How to do ghusl: make the intention, wash your hands and private parts, make wudu, work water into your hair and pour it over your head three times, then wash the whole body, right side first (Bukhari 248, Muslim 316). Ghusl is the full ritual bath that lifts major impurity, and you need it before you can pray after the states listed below.

When ghusl is required

• After sexual intercourse, even without emission, or any discharge of semen (janabah) (Quran 5:6, Quran 4:43, Bukhari 291, Muslim 348).
• When menstruation ends (Quran 2:222, Bukhari 320).
• When post-natal bleeding (nifas) ends.
• After death, when others wash the deceased.
• Scholars differ on whether someone who becomes Muslim must do ghusl or is only recommended to.

Most scholars hold that ghusl before Jumu'ah and before entering ihram is sunnah (Bukhari 877, Tirmidhi 830). A minority held the Friday ghusl to be obligatory, based on Bukhari 879.

The obligatory minimum

Water has to reach your entire body, including the hair and the skin under it. Beyond that the schools differ. The Hanafi and Hanbali schools also require rinsing the mouth and nose, which the Shafi'i and Maliki schools count as sunnah. Most schools make the intention a requirement, while the Hanafi school counts it as sunnah.

Ghusl steps

1. 1

   Make the intention. Intend in your heart to lift the state of major impurity.

2. 2

   Wash both hands. Two or three times (Bukhari 257, Muslim 317).

3. 3

   Wash the private parts. Use the left hand, and remove any impurity (Muslim 317, Bukhari 257).

4. 4

   Make wudu. Make it as you would for prayer (Bukhari 248). You can leave washing the feet until the end (Bukhari 249).

5. 5

   Wet the hair and head. Run wet fingers through your hair to the roots, then pour water over your head three times (Bukhari 248, Muslim 316).

6. 6

   Wash the whole body. Start with the right side, then the left, and leave no part dry. The Prophet ﷺ liked to start with the right (Bukhari 168).

7. 7

   Wash the feet. If you left them out of your wudu, wash them last (Bukhari 249).

Women don't have to undo braided hair for the ghusl after janabah, as long as the water reaches the roots (Muslim 330).

Does ghusl count as wudu?

If you made wudu as part of your ghusl and nothing has broken it since, you can pray without a fresh wudu. Aisha said she didn't see the Prophet ﷺ make wudu again after ghusl (Abu Dawud 250).

Checked against its sources on 2026-10-17. Where the schools of fiqh differ, follow the one you practise.