Starting with Wudhu when Performing Ghusl

Some of the Unknown Sunnan¹

(1) Starting With Wudhu² When Performing Ghusl³

Narrated 'Aisha (ra): whenever the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) took a bath after janaba⁴ and he started by washing his hands and then performed ablution like that for the prayer. After that he would put his fingers in water and move the roots of his hair with them, and then pour three handfuls of water over his head and then pour water all over his body. [Bukhari]

Narrated Maimuna (ra) that Allah's apostle (peace and blessing be upon him) performed ablution like that for the prayer but did not wash his feet. He washed off the discharge from his private parts and then poured water over his body. He withdrew his feet from that place (the place where he took the bath) and then washed them. And that was his way of taking the bath of janaba. [Bukhari]

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(1)Sunnan: prophetic teachings and practices, plural of sunnah

(2) wudhu: wudhu is known as 'ablution' in english. Wudhu is a ceremonial act of washing and wiping the hands, face, arms, head and feet before praying or touching the text of the Quran. Without wudhu those activities would be void and unlawful.

(3) ghusl: ghusl is an arabic term referring to the full ablution (ritual bathing) required in Islam for various rituals and prayers. The ghusl becomes mandatory for any adult Muslim after having sexual intercourse, any sexual discharge (e.g. of semen), completion of the menstrual cycle, giving birth, and death by natural causes.

(4) janaba: the state of janaba is a state of ritual impurity (najasa) caused by ejaculation or sex (even if there is no ejaculation or orgasm). One must take a ritual bath known as ghusl al-janaba before they can pray or do any religious activity. A person in janaba may not sit in the mosque.

(5) Authenticated by al-Bukhari in his Sahih, Kitab al-Ghusl (843) and Muslim in his sahih, kitab al-Ghusl (613)