To make ghusl after menstruation, rinse your mouth and nose, then wash your entire body from head to toe for ritual purity before prayer.

How to make ghusl after menstruation

IN THIS ARTICLE  💬
SUMMARY 💡
  • To make ghusl after menstruation, rinse your mouth and nose, then wash your entire body from head to toe for ritual purity before prayer.
  • Rinsing the mouth and nose is the first step in ghusl, ensuring that the interior of the body is purified before washing the entire body.
  • Intention (Niyyah) is crucial before starting ghusl, as it transforms the act into a form of worship aimed at gaining closeness to Allah.
  • Washing the body three times is a sunnah practice that enhances the thoroughness of cleansing, although one wash is sufficient for validity.
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LAST UPDATED:
05 October 2025

how to make ghusl after menstruation

To make ghusl after menstruation, you must first rinse the entire mouth and the soft part of the nose once, and then wash your entire body, ensuring that water reaches every part from head to toe. This is essential to return to a state of ritual purity required for prayer and other acts of worship.

Integrals of Ghusl

Rinse the Mouth and Nose

The first step in a valid ghusl is rinsing the mouth once. This cleansing must reach every part of the mouth. Similarly, rinse the soft part of the nose once. These actions ensure that the interior of the body is purified.

Wash the Entire Body

The second integral is to wash the entire body. This involves washing from the top of the head to the toes, ensuring every part of the outer body is cleansed. Pay special attention to areas like the belly button and the outer ear, ensuring water reaches all accessible parts without causing harm.

Emphasised Sunnahs of Ghusl

Intention (Niyyah)

Before beginning the physical acts of ghusl, make a firm intention to perform the ritual bath to gain closeness to Allah by fulfilling His command. This intention is what transforms a mere act of cleaning into an act of worship.

Wash Hands and Private Parts

Start by washing your hands up to the wrists and then wash the private parts thoroughly. This step ensures any impurities are removed before the main body is washed.

Perform a Complete Wudu

Perform a complete wudu, which includes washing the face, arms up to the elbows, wiping the head, and washing the feet. This step complements the ghusl and is an emphasised sunnah that brings additional reward.

Wash the Body Three Times

Although washing the body once is sufficient for the validity of ghusl, washing three times is a sunnah practice that cleanses thoroughly. Alternatively, standing under a shower for the time it takes water to cover you from head to toe three times can fulfill this sunnah.

Special Considerations for Women

Hair Care During Ghusl

Women do not need to undo their braids for the ghusl to be valid, provided that water reaches the roots of the hair. This concession makes the process easier while still maintaining the required purification.

Water Usage

The Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was mindful of water usage even when it was abundant. Ghusl can be performed efficiently using a minimal amount of water, such as one saa (approximately 3 liters), while ensuring that every part of the body is washed properly.

Conclusion

Performing ghusl after menstruation is a straightforward process involving rinsing the mouth and nose, washing the entire body, and observing the emphasised sunnahs for additional reward. These steps ensure that you return to a state of ritual purity, allowing you to engage in prayer and other forms of worship.

FAQs

Do I need to undo my braids for ghusl after menstruation?

No, you do not need to undo braids as long as water can reach the roots of your hair.

Is it necessary to perform wudu after ghusl?

Performing a complete wudu is an emphasised sunnah during ghusl, but not required again after completing a valid ghusl.

Can I perform ghusl using a shower?

Yes, standing under a shower for the time it takes water to cover your body three times fulfills the sunnah of washing the body.

What should I do if water does not reach my hair roots during ghusl?

Ensure that water reaches the roots. If it doesn't, adjust the water flow or reposition your hair to allow water access to the roots.

How much water is recommended for ghusl?

A minimal amount, such as one saa (around 3 liters), is adequate if used efficiently to wash the entire body.

SOURCES & REFERENCES 🔗

This opinion is based on Ascent to Felicity (Maraqi al-Saʿādat), a widely-respected manual of Islamic creed and Hanafi fiqh (jurisprudence) by the classical jurist Abu 'l-Ikhlāṣ al-Shurunbulālī, translated with notes by Faraz A. Khan.

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5 common questions EVERY Muslim should know.
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Question 1 of 5Which of the following is a requirement for Ghusl to be valid?

Starting with Bismillah
Doing a complete wudu
Setting intention to do ghusl
Rinsing the nose
Wash the entire body 3x

Question 2 of 5Ahmed is from the UK and is visiting his family in Palestine for 3 weeks. How should he pray?

Shorten and combine prayers for the duration of the visit
Pray normally (not shorten or combine)
Shorten prayers up until 15 days then pray normally
Only shorten prayers during the journey. Pray normally upon arrival in Palestine.

Question 3 of 5What is the minimum distance a person must intend to travel to make them a traveller?

42 miles from their residence
42 miles outside their city boundary
48 miles from their residence
48 miles outside of their city boundary

Question 4 of 5You are a traveller according to Hanafi fiqh and are feeling energetic, how should you pray?

Pray the full four rakats
Shorten prayers to 2 rakats
Shorten prayers to 2 rakats and combine in one prayer time
Pray the full four rakats and sunnah prayers

Question 5 of 5You're praying salah at an airport and you lay your jacket with your wallet beside you. Your wallet only has £5 inside and you see someone taking your wallet. Can you break your salah to stop them?

Yes
No
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