Al- Ghusl, Body wash

Al- Ghusl, Body wash

Linguistically

Ghusl is to run water upon an item. 

In Shariah : 

Ghusl means to run water over the entire body with the intention of making worship lawful.

Its legitimacy

Ghusl is allowed for making prayer (salat) lawful, and for simply cleaning oneself, or removing hadith (ritual impurity).

Allah Almighty says: {Surely Allah loves those who turn much (to Him), and He loves those who purify themselves.} (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:222)

In some cases, ghusl is obligatory before performing certain types of worship.

Ghusl is fard (required) for: janabah, after menstruation, after the post-childbirth time, and after death. 

What makes one junub (impure), requiring janabah:

a. The emission of mani (semen) from the male or female.

b. Having sex, even if there was no mani (semen) discharge.

Performing ghusl (sunnah method):

1. Washing the hands (outside of the container of water), followed by washing the private parts and the impurities on the body, then rubbing the hands with a purifier (e.g., soap).

2. Performing wudu (the regular ablution) completely. If desired, one can delay washing feet until the end of the ghusl.

3. Passing water through the hair with one’s fingers and then washing the head three times.

4. Washing the body, first the right side and then the left.

5. Rubbing those bodily parts, in the order mentioned previously in wudu.i.e not simply pouring water but also rubbing those parts with one's hand.

6. Washing the body parts that have folds, such as the ears, navel, armpits, and stomach. If one thinks that water will not reach those parts by simply pouring water over them, then it is wajib to rub them with water to make sure that water reaches every part.

7. Washing the body parts three times.

Makruh (disliked) acts of ghusl

1. Wasting water.

2. Taking a bath in standing water. 

Sunnah (recommended) ghusl:

1. On Fridays.

2. Before Eid prayers. The time for Eid ghusl starts from the night before the Eid.

3. During an eclipse of the sun or the moon. The time for eclipse ghusl starts when the eclipse begins and ends when the eclipse is over.

4. Before istisqaa prayers (for seeking rain).

5. After washing a corpse.

6. For certain pillars of hajj (major pilgrimage) or umrah (minor pilgrimage):

a. When undertaking the pilgrimage.

b. Upon entering Makkah.

c. At Mount Arafah.

d. Before throwing stones on the three days of Eid al-Adha after sunset. e. Ghusl upon entering Madinah.