State the conditions that necessitate Ghusl in Islam and describe how it is performed.

Answer Details

Conditions that necessitate Ghusl and how it is performed

Ghusl is the ritual bath in which the entire body is washed to remove a state of major impurity (janabah) and restore purity for worship.

Conditions that make Ghusl obligatory:

1. Emission of semen (maniyy) with desire, whether during sleep (wet dream) or while awake.
2. Sexual intercourse, even if there is no emission, once the two circumcised parts meet.
3. End of menstruation (haid) in a woman.
4. End of post-natal bleeding (nifas) after childbirth.
5. Death of a Muslim, in which case the living are obliged to wash the corpse.
6. Some scholars add a non-Muslim embracing Islam as an occasion for a recommended bath.

How Ghusl is performed:

1. Make the intention (Niyyah) in the heart to purify oneself from major impurity, and say Bismillah.
2. Wash both hands up to the wrists three times.
3. Wash the private parts and remove any impurity from the body.
4. Perform a complete ablution (Wudu') as for prayer.
5. Pour water over the head three times, running the fingers through the hair so the water reaches the scalp.
6. Wash the whole body, starting with the right side then the left, ensuring water reaches every part of the skin, including the armpits, navel and between the toes, so that no dry spot remains.

Once completed correctly, the person is purified and may pray, touch and recite the Qur'an, and enter the mosque.