How to Perform Ghusl (Full Ritual Bath)

Ghusl is the full body washing required after certain conditions to restore complete ritual purity for prayer.

When ghusl is required (fard)

After sexual intercourse or ejaculation (janabah)
End of menstruation (haid)
End of postnatal bleeding (nifas)
For the deceased (performed by family/community)
When a non-Muslim accepts Islam (sunnah, recommended)

When ghusl is sunnah (recommended)

Before Friday prayer (Jumu'ah)
Before Eid prayers
Before entering ihram for Hajj or Umrah
After washing the deceased

Niyyah

Intend in your heart: "I am performing ghusl to remove ritual impurity for prayer."

Bismillāh + wash hands ×3

Say "Bismillāh" and wash both hands up to the wrists three times.

Wash private parts

Use the left hand. Wash any part of the body that has impurity on it.

Perform a full wudu

Complete wudu as you would for prayer (some scholars say delay washing the feet to the end — both are sunnah).

Pour water over the head ×3

Make sure water reaches the roots of every hair. For long thick hair: it's enough to let water flow through, you do not have to undo braids (Sahih Muslim 330).

Pour water over the right side of the body

From shoulder down to the foot. Rub the body with the hand to make sure water reaches every part — under the arms, between fingers and toes, behind the ears, the navel.

Pour water over the left side

Same as the right.

If you didn't wash feet earlier — do so now

Step out of the wash area and wash your feet with running water.

Common errors to avoid

Skipping the wudu step — sunnah but highly recommended.
Not letting water reach the scalp — water MUST touch the skin under the hair.
Showering quickly without intention — the niyyah is essential.
Thinking ghusl from janabah doesn't need wudu before prayer — ghusl IS sufficient (Sahih Muslim 330) — no separate wudu needed unless something has broken your wudu since.