The sunnahs, preferred acts and disliked acts of ghusl
The five sunnahs of ghusl, the acts that are mustahabb, and the acts that are makruh while bathing.
Once you have done the three fard things in ghusl, there are also sunnahs, things the Prophet ﷺ used to do, and mustahabb things, which are good extra things to do.
Five sunnahs of ghusl
- Washing both hands up to the wrists.
- Washing your private parts.
- Removing any impurity (najasah) from anywhere on your body.
- Doing wudu.
- Pouring water over your whole body three times.
Good extra things to do (mustahabb)
- Making the intention in your heart.
- Saying "Bismillah" (In the name of Allah) when you wash your hands.
- Rubbing your body with your hands while you wash.
- Bathing somewhere no one can see you.
- Doing the other mustahabb things of wudu too, except facing the qiblah, saying the special duas, and drinking the leftover water, which do not apply here.
Beyond the three fard obligations, ghusl has five sunnahs, a set of mustahabb (preferable) acts, and acts that are makruh (disliked).
The five sunnahs of ghusl
- Washing both hands up to the wrists.
- Washing the private parts.
- Removing any impurity (najasah) from the body, wherever it may be.
- Performing wudu.
- Pouring water over the entire body three times.
Mustahabbat (preferable acts) of ghusl
- Making the intention (niyyah).
- Saying "Bismillah" when washing the hands.
- Rubbing the body while washing.
- Bathing in a place where no one can see.
- Whatever is mustahabb in wudu, except facing the qiblah, reciting the specific duas, and drinking the leftover water, none of which apply to ghusl.
Makruhat (disliked acts) in ghusl
- Bathing where a non-mahram could see, without necessity.
- Facing the qiblah while bathing unclothed.
- Reciting "Bismillah" or other duas at an inappropriate moment.
- Speaking without need.
- Whatever is disliked in wudu.
Beyond the three farāʾiḍ, ghusl carries five sunan, a set of mustaḥabbāt, and acts classed as makrūhāt.
The five sunnahs of ghusl
- Washing both hands to the wrists.
- Washing the private parts.
- Removing najāsah from the body, wherever it is present.
- Performing wuḍūʾ.
- Pouring water over the entire body three times.
The mustaḥabbāt of ghusl
- The niyyah.
- Saying 'Bismillāh' when washing the hands.
- Rubbing the body while washing.
- Bathing where one cannot be seen.
- Every act mustaḥabb in wuḍūʾ, with three exceptions that do not carry over to ghusl: facing the qiblah, the specific duʿās of wuḍūʾ, and drinking the water left over from it.
The makrūhāt of ghusl
- Bathing where a non-maḥram could see, without necessity.
- Facing the qiblah while bathing unclothed.
- Reciting 'Bismillāh' or other duʿās at a moment unsuited to it.
- Speaking without need.
- Every act that is makrūh in wuḍūʾ.
Related
- The disliked acts (makruhat) of wudu Ten actions the fiqh dislikes during wudu, from wasting water to making wudu inside a mosque.
- How to make ghusl, step by step The full sunnah method of ghusl in order, from washing the hands to the final pouring, with the notes that make it valid.
- The sunnahs and preferred acts (mustahabbat) of wudu Everything in the method of wudu beyond the four obligations: the sunnahs, the mustahabb acts, and the words recommended at each step.
- What ghusl is, and when it is required The definition of ghusl, the occasions it is fard, wajib, sunnah or mustahabb, the conditions for it to count, and its three obligations.