Experience ghusl

[Ladykary]

As-salāmu ʿalaykum wa raḥmatullāh

I would like to ask for your experiences regarding ghusl and especially the practical side related to hair and daily routine.

For sisters (and brothers with long hair/beard), how do you manage:

• Drying and taking care of your hair after ghusl?
• The time it takes, especially when you are busy or need to go out?
• Difficulties such as hair breakage, having to redo hairstyle, or makeup for those who wear it?

And most importantly: have you found any simple tips or personal solutions that make this moment easier and faster, while still respecting the rules of ghusl?

Sharing our experiences could be very helpful for others.


JazakAllahu khayran for your answers

 

[Danial]

Wa ʿalaykum as-salām wa raḥmatullāhi wa barakātuh


Many people do not know that it is permissible for a woman not to undo her braids or hair while performing ghusl al-janābah (ritual bath after major impurity). What is required is only that water reaches the roots of the hair and the scalp — not that every single strand is soaked.


This is clearly established in the ḥadīth of Umm Salamah (رضي الله عنها):

She said: “O Messenger of Allah, I am a woman who braids her hair tightly. Must I undo it for ghusl from janābah?”
The Prophet ﷺ replied: “It is sufficient for you to pour three handfuls of water over your head, then pour water over the rest of your body, and you will be purified.”
(Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 330, Abū Dāwūd 251, al-Tirmidhī 105, al-Nasā’ī 242, Musnad Aḥmad 6/289)

This proves that women do not have to undo their hair each time they make ghusl, as long as water can reach the scalp and roots.

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The Complete Method of Ghusl (Based on Authentic Aḥādīth)​

From the narrations of ʿĀ’ishah (رضي الله عنها), Maymūnah (رضي الله عنها), and others, the Prophet ﷺ taught the following method:

1. Clean the private parts and remove any impurity
   – Begin by washing both hands.
   – Then use the right hand to pour water over the left hand and wash the private parts thoroughly.
   (Sunan al-Nasā’ī 419)
2. Perform wuḍū’ just like for prayer
   – After washing the hands and private parts, make a complete ablution (wuḍū’), just as you would before ṣalāh.
   (Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 248)
3. Wash the hair and head
   – Insert the fingers into the roots of the hair so that water reaches the scalp.
   – Then pour three handfuls of water over the head.
   (Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 718)
4. Wash the entire body
   – Pour water over the whole body, ensuring that every part is reached — right side first, then left.
   – Finally, step aside from the place of bathing and wash the feet.
   (Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 718, Sunan al-Nasā’ī 249)

Summary​

• A woman does not need to undo her braids for ghusl.
• She should make sure water reaches the scalp and roots of her hair.
• The sunnah way of ghusl:
  
  1. Wash hands and private parts.
  2. Perform wuḍū’.
  3. Pour three handfuls of water on the head, ensuring the roots are wet.
  4. Wash the entire body, then finally wash the feet.

This is the simple and complete ghusl taught by the Prophet ﷺ.