What are the rules of the fard (obligatory) ghusl? When must it be performed, and what are its obligations? Many people do not know. Anyone who does not perform the fard ghusl correctly remains in a state of impurity, so it is important to know its rules and related matters. The headline gives three reasons for which ghusl becomes obligatory; the article sets out the following:

• Ejaculation with arousal, whether awake or asleep. When asleep, ghusl is obligatory even if no arousal is felt, since people often do not notice a wet dream. So if someone wakes and finds signs of impurity on his clothes, ghusl is obligatory whether or not he remembers a wet dream or ejaculation. (Hedaya 1/45; An-Nutaf fil Fatawa, p 29)
• Sexual intercourse. Ghusl becomes obligatory for both husband and wife once the minimum part of the male organ enters, even without ejaculation. (Bukhari, hadith 291; Muslim, hadith 343)

Ghusl has three obligations, and if any one is missed the fard ghusl is not valid. Among them, as the article lists, is making sure water reaches the whole body.

To perform it, make the intention in your heart to remove impurity. Then wash off any impurity on the private parts or body, and perform wudu. Then wet the head, pour water first over the right side of the body and then the left, and then pour water over the whole body.

Maimuna (RA), wife of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), said: "I put out water for the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) to bathe, and he performed ghusl (for janabah). First he tipped the vessel over his right hand and washed it two or three times. Then he poured water on his private parts and washed them with his left hand. Then he rubbed his hand on the ground (to remove the smell) and washed it with water. Then he rinsed his mouth and cleaned his nose, and washed his face and both hands. Then he poured water over his head and whole body. Finally he moved a little away from that spot and washed both feet." (Abu Dawud: 245)

Remember that during ghusl a man's beard and hair and a woman's hair must be thoroughly wetted. After ghusl performed this way, no fresh wudu is needed unless the wudu is broken.

Source: Amader Shomoy. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.