Ghusl: Purification Bath In Islam
‘Ghusl’ is an Arabic term that is used in reference to the ritual of full-body cleansing in Islam. It is an obligatory ritual that a devotee is required to perform, before performing any religious act, prayer. And also to be performed after completion of the menstruation cycle or sexual activity. This ritual has a significant role in any form of pilgrimage i.e.,
Umrah or Hajj pilgrimage. It is very important to understand that of purification bath in Islam that lays the right way to wash oneself before entering into the state of Ihram for the pilgrimage of Umrah or Hajj and also before beginning the Eid or Friday prayers. Ghusl is also considered to be a significant step that the worshippers need to perform before visiting the house of God.
What is Wudu?
To discuss the ritual of ghusl in detail, it is more important to understand the term wudu. Wudu is also a cleansing act. It involves cleaning parts of the body before performing any religious prayer. Wudu requires washing hands, mouth, nostrils, arms, face, ears, hair, and feet. Wudu is an important characteristic of the purity ritual in the Islamic religion and is regulated by fiqh or the Islamic moral philosophy, which defines the rules regarding hygiene and rituals that are part of it. Actions that invalidate wudu include excretion, deep sleep, light bleeding, period, urination, and sexual intercourse. In comparison to Ghusl, wudu can be referred to as partial ablution as ghusl is complete ablution where the whole body is washed.
The following steps are recommended to be performed for wudu.
- On completion of ablution, one must chant shahada
- Refrain from engaging in any worldly conversation
- The act of ablution is to be conducted in a clean place
- One should avoid wasting water
- Always start wudu from the right side
Rules of Ghusl
The devotee or the pilgrims have certain rules that need to be followed before performing the ritual of Ghusl.
How to perform a purification bath in Islam
- The ritual of ghusl begins by washing both the hands up to the wrists and then washing the private parts regardless of any impurity on them or not.
- Water should flow thoroughly to the entire body.
- All the acts that are involved in purification like bathing should be done facing the holy Kaaba. Water should be used conserved. The only required amount of water should be used neither too less that one is unable to wash nor should too much.
- The devotee should refrain from any worldly talks while bathing also that no one sees the bathing person.
- It’s after wearing clothes that the feet should be washed in the end.
Ghusl is a process of maintaining purity and making your duas accepted. It is also a form of worship that is considered a quality of true nature. A devotee or a pilgrim is required to follow clear rules and steps for performing the act of Ghul. It is endorsed that upon following the steps involved with sincerity. The ablution performed will make a pilgrim clean and pure to enter the holy house of Allah, the almighty.