How a woman is instructed to perform ghusl

Sayyidah Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) said: Once Asma' bint Shakal came to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and asked: "When a woman becomes pure from menstruation, how should she perform the ritual bath?" He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "She should take lote-tree leaves and water and first perform ablution. Then she should wash her head, then rub her head so that the water reaches the roots (of the hair), then pour water over her whole body, then take the cloth (used for menstruation) and cleanse herself with it." She said: "O Messenger of Allah! How do I cleanse myself with the cloth?" He said: "Cleanse yourself with it." Sayyidah Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) said: I understood what he (peace and blessings be upon him) meant, so I said to that woman: "Wipe away the traces of blood."

Sayyidah Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) said that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said to her, regarding her menstruation: "Undo your hair and perform the ritual bath."

Sayyidah Umm Salamah (may Allah be pleased with her) said: When any of us women performed the ritual bath for janabah, she would leave her braids tied.

Ibn Sirin was asked about a woman who is heavy or large-bodied, so that her hand cannot reach her back: how should she perform the ritual bath for janabah or for menstruation? He said: "We hope for something greater than this from the mercy of Allah Almighty."

Dinar said: I said to al-Hasan: "A non-Arab slave-girl does not perform the ritual bath properly." He said: "Instruct her to wipe her private part with a cloth, then wash it inside and out with water, then perform the ablution of prayer, then perform the ritual bath."