Must braids be undone?

Not for the ghusl of janabah: the Prophet ﷺ told Umm Salamah that pouring water three times over her head was enough (Muslim 330). The Shafi‘i school requires undoing them if water cannot reach inside.

How to perform ghusl, step by step

Ghusl is the washing of the whole body required before prayer after intercourse, an emission of semen or the end of menstruation. Here is the complete method, then what each school considers obligatory.

Optional: choosing your school hides the actions it does not perform and highlights its view. Nothing is imposed.

Step-by-step mode

Step 1 / 7

Intention

In your heart, resolve to purify yourself from the state that requires ghusl.

Obligatory · Maliki, Shafi‘i, HanbaliRecommended (sunnah) · Hanafi

Schools, details and sources

Sources

All the steps

To read the whole guide at once. “Follow from here” opens the step-by-step mode at that step.

1.Intention
In your heart, resolve to purify yourself from the state that requires ghusl.
Obligatory · Maliki, Shafi‘i, HanbaliRecommended (sunnah) · Hanafi
Schools, details and sources
Sources
al-Bukhari 1, Muslim 1907 — authentic
obligations of ghusl by school (islamweb, fatwa 14001)
2.Hands
Start by washing your hands.
Recommended (sunnah) · all 4 schools
Schools, details and sources
Sources
al-Bukhari 248, Muslim 316 — authentic
al-Bukhari 249, Muslim 317 — authentic
3.Private parts
Pour water with the right hand onto the left and wash the private parts and anything soiled, then clean the hand well.
Recommended (sunnah) · all 4 schools
Schools, details and sources
Sources
al-Bukhari 248, Muslim 316 — authentic
al-Bukhari 249, Muslim 317 — authentic
4.Wudu
Perform wudu as for prayer. You may leave washing the feet until the end.
Recommended (sunnah) · all 4 schools
See wudu step by step →
Schools, details and sources
Sources
al-Bukhari 248, Muslim 316 — authentic
al-Bukhari 249, Muslim 317 — authentic
5.Head and hair
Run wet fingers through the hair down to the roots, then pour water over the head three times.× 3
Obligatory · all 4 schools
For women
There is no need to undo braids for the ghusl of janabah (hadith of Umm Salamah). The Shafi‘i school requires undoing them if water cannot reach inside; the Maliki school if they are tight or braided with threads.
Schools, details and sources
Water must reach the hair and scalp; doing it three times is the sunnah.
Sources
al-Bukhari 248, Muslim 316 — authentic
Muslim 330 — authentic
obligations of ghusl by school (islamweb, fatwa 14001)
6.The whole body
Pour water over the whole body, starting with the right side then the left, not forgetting the folds of the skin: everything must get wet.
Obligatory · all 4 schools
Schools, details and sources
Obligations specific to some schools: rinsing the mouth and nose (Hanafi and Hanbali); rubbing the body and continuity (Maliki).
Sources
al-Bukhari 248, Muslim 316 — authentic
al-Bukhari 168, Muslim 268 — authentic
obligations of ghusl by school (islamweb, fatwa 14001)
7.Feet
If you have not done so yet, wash your feet last, stepping slightly aside.
Recommended (sunnah) · all 4 schools
Schools, details and sources
Sources
al-Bukhari 249, Muslim 317 — authentic

When is ghusl required?

After sexual intercourse, even without ejaculation.
- Quran 5:6
- al-Bukhari 291, Muslim 348 — authentic
After an emission of semen, awake or in a dream.
- Muslim 343 — authentic
At the end of menstruation and of post-natal bleeding.
- Quran 2:222
- al-Bukhari 320 — authentic
On embracing Islam: obligatory for the Maliki and Hanbali schools, recommended for the Hanafi and Shafi‘i schools (unless in a state of janabah).
- Abu Dawud 355, at-Tirmidhi 605, an-Nasa’i 188 — authentic
- ghusl on embracing Islam (al-Mawsu‘a al-Fiqhiyya) (islamweb, fatwa 288373)

The minimum valid ghusl

All schools agree on the essential: making water reach the whole body, hair and skin included. Added to this are intention (Maliki, Shafi‘i, Hanbali), rinsing the mouth and nose (Hanafi, Hanbali), rubbing and continuity (Maliki).