Ghusl and tayammum
When ghusl becomes obligatory
After marital relations, a wet dream or any emission of semen with desire, at the end of menstruation (hayd), and at the end of post-natal bleeding (nifas). Without it one may not pray, touch the Quran or stay in the masjid.
The three obligatory acts of ghusl
- Rinsing the whole mouth (gargling if not fasting).
- Getting water into the soft part of the nose.
- Water reaching every part of the body, so that not a hair’s breadth stays dry.
The Sunnah way
- Make the intention, say “Bismillah” and wash both hands.
- Wash the private parts and remove any impurity from the body.
- Make a full wudu as for prayer.
- Pour water over the head three times, then the right shoulder three times, then the left.
- Wash the whole body well, making sure water reaches the navel and inside the ears.
Tayammum
When water cannot be found, or using it would harm one’s health, tayammum with clean earth takes the place of wudu and ghusl.
يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ لَا تَقْرَبُوا۟ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَأَنتُمْ سُكَٰرَىٰ حَتَّىٰ تَعْلَمُوا۟ مَا تَقُولُونَ وَلَا جُنُبًا إِلَّا عَابِرِى سَبِيلٍ حَتَّىٰ تَغْتَسِلُوا۟ ۚ وَإِن كُنتُم مَّرْضَىٰٓ أَوْ عَلَىٰ سَفَرٍ أَوْ جَآءَ أَحَدٌۭ مِّنكُم مِّنَ ٱلْغَآئِطِ أَوْ لَٰمَسْتُمُ ٱلنِّسَآءَ فَلَمْ تَجِدُوا۟ مَآءًۭ فَتَيَمَّمُوا۟ صَعِيدًۭا طَيِّبًۭا فَٱمْسَحُوا۟ بِوُجُوهِكُمْ وَأَيْدِيكُمْ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ عَفُوًّا غَفُورًا ٤٣yaaa aiyuhal lazeena aamanoo laa taqrabus Salaata wa antum sukaaraa hatta ta'lamoo ma taqooloona wa la junuban illaa 'aabiree sabeelin hatta taghtasiloo; wa in kuntum mardaaa aw 'alaa safarin aw jaaa'a ahadum minkum minal ghaaa'iti aw laamastumun nisaaa'a falam tajidoo maaa'an fatayam mamoo sa'eedan taiyiban famsahoo biwujoohikum wa aideekum; innal laaha kaana 'Afuwwan GhafooraaO you who have believed, do not approach prayer while you are intoxicated until you know what you are saying or in a state of janabah, except those passing through [a place of prayer], until you have washed [your whole body]. And if you are ill or on a journey or one of you comes from the place of relieving himself or you have contacted women and find no water, then seek clean earth and wipe over your faces and your hands [with it]. Indeed, Allah is ever Pardoning and Forgiving.Surah An-Nisa 4:43
- Make the intention and say “Bismillah”.
- Strike both palms on clean earth (or stone, sand), shake them lightly and wipe the whole face.
- Strike again and wipe the right arm, then the left, up to the elbows.
Whatever breaks wudu breaks tayammum; it also ends once water is found or can be used again.