ElifHow do you perform ghusl?
Short answer
In the Hanafi school, ghusl has three obligatory (fard) acts: rinsing the mouth, rinsing the nose, and washing the whole body so that no part is left dry. In the sunnah way of ghusl, you begin with the basmala and the intention, wash your hands and private parts, perform wudu as for prayer, then pour water first over your head, then over your right and left shoulders, washing the body three times.
The obligatory acts of ghusl (3)
- Rinsing the mouth right up to the throat.
- Rinsing the nose by drawing water into it.
- Washing the whole body so that no part is left dry.
If any one of these is missed, the ghusl is not valid. Water must reach the roots of the hair, under the eyebrows, moustache and beard, the navel, the inside of the ears and earring holes; a tight ring should be moved.
The sunnah way of ghusl, step by step
- Say the basmala and make the intention for ghusl.
- Wash your hands up to the wrists; remove any impurity on the body.
- Wash your private parts.
- With the right hand, rinse your mouth three times and rinse your nose three times.
- Perform wudu as for prayer; if water collects where you are washing, leave the feet until the end.
- Pour water first over your head, then over your right shoulder, then over your left shoulder; wash the body three times, rubbing it with the first pouring.
- If water has collected, wash your feet at the very end.
Good manners include not wasting water, washing where no one can see you and not talking during ghusl. Someone who enters a river, the sea or a large pool and also rinses the mouth and nose has performed ghusl. After ghusl, there is no need for a separate wudu unless something breaks it.
What makes ghusl necessary
- Major ritual impurity (janabah): sexual intercourse (for both partners, even without ejaculation) and the emission of semen with desire.
- The end of menstruation (hayd).
- The end of post-natal bleeding (nifas).
Someone who wakes up and finds wetness must perform ghusl even if they do not remember a dream; someone who remembers a dream but finds no wetness does not need ghusl. Pre-seminal fluid (madhy) and wadi do not require ghusl. Ghusl is sunnah for the Friday and Eid prayers and for entering ihram.
Fillings, nail polish and tattoos
- Fillings, crowns, braces, implants and fixed dentures do not prevent ghusl. Removable dentures should be taken out while rinsing the mouth.
- Nail polish, lipstick and paints that form a layer stop water reaching the skin, so they must be removed before ghusl. Gel that does not form a layer is not a barrier.
- Artificial nails worn for cosmetic reasons prevent ghusl; nails used temporarily for treatment on a doctor's advice are treated like a bandage.
- Tattoos: a permanent tattoo that does not form a layer on the skin does not prevent ghusl; an old tattoo that cannot be removed is treated as part of the skin, and prayer is valid. A temporary tattoo applied on the surface is a barrier.
Differences between schools
Rinsing the mouth and nose is obligatory according to the Hanafis, and sunnah according to the Shafi'is and Malikis. The intention is sunnah according to the Hanafis (ghusl is valid even if it is forgotten); according to the Shafi'is, it is obligatory.
Related verses
- Al-Ma'idah 5:6 —
And if you are in a state of janābah… then purify yourselves.
- An-Nisa 4:43 —
…in a state of janābah… until you have washed [your whole body].
Quotations are from the Saheeh International translation; links open the full verse on Quran.com.
Frequently asked
Do I need to do wudu separately after ghusl?
No. Ghusl includes wudu; there is no need to perform wudu again unless something breaks it.
Do dental fillings or crowns prevent ghusl?
No. Only removable dentures should be taken out while rinsing the mouth.
Is it permissible to delay ghusl?
If there is a need, it can be delayed for a short time as long as a prayer time is not missed; delaying it so long that a prayer is missed is not permissible.
Can I recite the Qur'an while in a state of janabah?
The Qur'an is not recited and the Mushaf is not touched; verses that are supplications may be recited with the intention of making du'a.
In Elif
The Ilmihal (basic Islamic rulings) section in Elif explains purification, wudu and ghusl in plain language; you can ask Ask Elif about any particular situation you are unsure of and see the source behind the answer.
Sources
- Diyanet High Council of Religious Affairs — When is ghusl necessary, and how is ghusl performed according to the sunnah? (in Turkish)
- Diyanet, Islamic Manual (İslam İlmihali) — Ghusl (pp. 119–124) (in Turkish)
- Diyanet High Council of Religious Affairs — Do fillings, crowns and braces prevent wudu and ghusl? (in Turkish)
- Diyanet High Council of Religious Affairs — Do paint, nail polish, lipstick and gel prevent wudu and ghusl? (in Turkish)
- Diyanet High Council of Religious Affairs — Is the prayer of someone with a tattoo valid? (in Turkish)
- Diyanet High Council of Religious Affairs — Is wudu needed again after ghusl? (in Turkish)
- TDV Encyclopedia of Islam — Ghusl (in Turkish)
This page is compiled from the rulings of Türkiye's Presidency of Religious Affairs (Diyanet) and the sources listed. Rulings follow the Hanafi school; where other schools differ, this is noted. For your personal situation, please ask a scholar at your local mosque. Last updated: 5 October 2026.