There are three types of major impurities:

1) Janaabah (state after sexual intercourse or release of sperm/sexual discharge)
2) Haidh (menstruation)
3) Nifaas (post-natal bleeding)

The purification from major impurities is called al-ghusl. Al-ghusl is to apply waterto the whole of the body in a specific manner. Al-Haafidh Ibn Hajar said: “The reality of al-ghusl is that you wash all body parts whilst distinguishing the parts for worship.”

The proof for its obligation is the saying of Allah, the Most High:

"O you who believe! When you intend to offer the prayer, wash your faces and your hands (forearms) up to the elbows, rub (by passing wet hands over) your heads, and (wash) your feet up to ankles. If you are in a state of Janâba (i.e. had a sexual discharge), purify yourself (bathe your whole body)." [Surah al-Maa’idah (5): verse 6]

Ghusl was practised before the time of the Prophet Muhammad (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam), in pre-Islamic time. It has remained in the religion of Ibraheem (alahihis salam).

It is obligatory for us to know these things so we practise with knowledges and not out of ignorance. If one does ghusl incorrectly it can nullify the prayer.

There are six things which necessitate al-ghusl, any one of these make it obligatory:

1) When sperm exits the private parts (or fluid for females) – this discharge is called al-manee.

This can either happen while awake or asleep. If this fluid comes while one is awake, it is conditional that it be accompanied by a sensational feeling for al-ghusl to be obligatory. If however there is no sensational feeling i.e. due to sickness or one is unable to hold in the fluid, then it does not necessitate al-ghusl.

If al-manee leaves the private parts during sleep (i.e. a wet dream), it is obligatory to make ghusl, whether you remember sensation or not. This is because a person loses his senses during sleep and does not know therefore may not recall.

If the person had a wet dream but no manee came, then ghusl is not obligatory.

2) When the penis enters the vagina even if there is no ejaculation.

The Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) said: “When one of you sits between the four parts of a woman…”

The meaning of “four parts” is the two arms and two legs.
Also the “two circumcised parts touching one another”. An-nawi means the head of the penis enters the vagina. If it is any less than that then the two private parts don’t touch.

Al-ghusl is obligatory upon the one entering (the man) as well as the one entered in (the woman).

3) When a disbeliever accepts Islaam, it is obligatory to perform ghusl.

The Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) commanded some of the Sahabah (Companions) who entered Islam to perform ghusl. Many of the people of knowledge hold that it is not obligatory but recommended.

4) Death, with the exception of the martyr who is killed in battle. The martyr is not to be washed. The ghusl of the deceased (other than a martyr) is done in the same manner as the ghusl of Janaabah.

5) At the end of al-haidh (menstruation)

6) At the end nifaas (post-natal bleeding).

The Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) instructed women to leave the prayer when their menses begin, and when it has finished to wash (perform al-ghusl) then pray.

Allah, the Most High says:

“They ask you concerning menstruation. Say: that is an Adha (a harmful thing for a husband to have a sexual intercourse with his wife while she is having her menses), therefore keep away from women during menses and go not unto them till they have purified (from menses and have taken a bath). And when they have purified themselves, then go in unto them as Allâh has ordained for you (go in unto them in any manner as long as it is in their vagina). Truly, Allâh loves those who turn unto Him in repentance and loves those who purify themselves (by taking a bath and cleaning and washing thoroughly their private parts, bodies, for their prayers, etc.)”. Surah al-Baqarah (2): verse 222

Al-haidh and nifaas have the same rulings

Also read related article: Guide to ghusl

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