The major ablution (ghusl): when and how

The major ablution (ghusl) washes the whole body. What first imposes it is the meeting of the two circumcised parts: the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:

When he sits between her four limbs and the two circumcised parts touch, ghusl becomes obligatory.Muslim 349

Abu Hurayra reports the same rule (al-Bukhari 291, Muslim 348).

Contact without emission does not require ghusl

If a man feels desire and restrains himself with no emission, the view of the three imams Abu Hanifa, Malik and Ash-Shafi'i, as well as Ahmad in one transmission, is that no ghusl is due. An-Nawawi reports that this is the view of all the scholars except Ahmad in his famous transmission, which requires it.

The Prophet's method for the major ablution

'Aisha describes the Prophet's ghusl: he washed his hands, performed a complete ablution as for prayer, ran his fingers through his hair until he felt the water reach the skin, poured water over his head three times, then washed his whole body (Muslim 316). Maymuna adds: he first washed the private area with his left hand, struck the earth to purify it, performed the ablution, then poured water over the body and finally stepped aside to wash his feet (Muslim 317).

What the ghusl contains

A complete ghusl therefore gathers: the intention, water passing over the whole body so as to reach the skin, and the ordinary ablution that accompanied it in the Prophet's practice. Rinsing the mouth and nose belongs to his reported method.

Practical note on ghusl

Under a shower or with a bucket, the sequence stays the same: hands, private areas, ablution, head and body, feet last if the floor is soiled. Check the areas where water hardly reaches: neck, ears, armpits.