Women have two obligatory ghusls: the ghusl of menstruation (hays) and the ghusl of sexual impurity (janabah). The ghusl of menstruation must be performed after the end of the menstrual cycle, and the ghusl of sexual impurity must be performed after sexual intercourse.
Ghusl, in its literal sense, means washing, and in Islamic terminology, it refers to a combination of intention and physical actions related to washing the body. In Islam, cleanliness is of great importance, and performing ghusl, which is obligatory in certain circumstances and recommended in others, serves as an example of the significance of personal hygiene.
Ghusls are categorized based on religious rulings into two groups: obligatory ghusls and recommended ghusls.
There are seven obligatory ghusls:
Ghusl of Janabah
Ghusl of Menstruation (Hayd)
Ghusl of Postpartum Bleeding (Nifas)
Ghusl of Istihadah (Irregular Bleeding)
Ghusl of the Deceased
Ghusl due to contact with a dead body
Ghusl that becomes obligatory due to vows or oaths, etc.
Among these, four ghusls—Hayd, Istihadah, Nifas, and Janabah—are obligatory for women.
Generally, the wisdom and secrets behind ghusls, such as the ghusl of menstruation, go beyond just physical cleanliness; they have spiritual significance as well. For this reason, ghusl should be performed with the intention of seeking closeness to Allah. Without this intention, even if physical impurity is washed away, the ghusl is still invalid. The obligation of ghusl does not imply that a woman is impure during her menstruation, just as the state of janabah does not imply impurity for men. Likewise, there is no impurity caused by the invalidators of wudu, which needs to be purified through wudu.
Ghusl of Menstruation (Hayd)
Hayd is the blood that typically flows from a woman’s womb for a few days each month. When a woman experiences menstrual bleeding, she is referred to as "Haydh," or menstruating. Menstrual blood is usually thick, warm, and its color tends to be dark red or blackish-red. The blood comes out with some pressure and slight burning sensation.
The duration of menstruation is not less than three days and not more than ten days. If the bleeding lasts for less than three days, it is not considered menstruation. The first three days of menstruation must follow one another. For instance, if a woman bleeds for two days, becomes clean for one day, and then bleeds again, this is not considered menstruation.
The ghusl of menstruation is one of the obligatory ghusls for women and must be performed after the completion of the menstrual cycle. Most scholars agree that a woman cannot pray during this time without performing ghusl.
There are two methods for performing ghusl of menstruation:
Irtimasi: This method involves fully immersing the body into water with the intention of ghusl all at once.
Tartibi: In this method, the head and neck are washed first, followed by the rest of the body. It is recommended to wash the right side first, followed by the left side after washing the head and neck.
If a woman has multiple obligatory ghusls to perform, she can perform a single ghusl with the intention of covering all of them. This is especially helpful for women who menstruate every month and are required to perform ghusl. If a woman experiences spotting (minor, medium, or heavy) after the end of her menstrual period, she must perform the ghusl of Istihadah.
Ghusl of Istihadah (Irregular Bleeding)
Any bleeding that is not part of the regular menstrual cycle (Hayd), postpartum bleeding (Nifas), or a result of illness is referred to as Istihadah. This can occur at any age, including before puberty or after menopause. Therefore, Istihadah can happen both before and after the menstrual cycle or menopause.
To determine the type of Istihadah, a woman should insert some cotton or similar material into her private area and wait for some time to assess the situation. If the blood does not penetrate the cotton or material and only stains the outer layer, this is called "Istihadah Qalila" (small amount). If the blood enters the cotton but does not reach the cloth used to prevent the bleeding, it is called "Istihadah Mutawassita" (medium amount). If the blood saturates the cotton and reaches the cloth, it is called "Istihadah Kathira" (large amount).
Ghusl of Janabah (Sexual Impurity)
Scholars have different opinions on the ghusl of Janabah for women:
Ayatollah Khamenei: If a woman reaches the peak of sexual pleasure (orgasm) and a fluid is emitted, then Janabah has occurred, and ghusl becomes obligatory. If she doubts whether she reached this peak or whether the fluid came out, ghusl is not required.
Ayatollah Sistani: If a fluid is emitted with sexual desire and the body becomes weak, Janabah occurs, and this fluid is impure. However, if the body does not become weak, even if the fluid comes out with sexual desire, it is recommended to perform ghusl.
Ayatollah Bahjat: The signs of Janabah are not just the physical weakness and sexual desire. If the fluid comes out with desire and after ejaculation the body becomes weak, the fluid is considered "mani" (semen), and ghusl is required.
The ghusl of Janabah is not obligatory by itself but becomes necessary before performing certain acts that require purity, such as prayer, entering the mosque, or touching the Quran.
Ghusl of Nifas (Postpartum Bleeding)
Ghusl of Nifas is required after childbirth when the bleeding has stopped. It is recommended not to pray immediately after the ghusl of Nifas, and to perform wudu before praying.
Considering that Ayatollah Khamenei exercises caution in determining the age of menopause, followers of the Supreme Leader can refer to another scholar for guidance on this issue.
Blood of Nifas: This is the blood that flows from the womb after childbirth for a specific period.
Menstrual blood lasts between three and ten days.
Postpartum bleeding (Nifas) can also last between three and ten days but may sometimes be less than three days.
Istihadah can last for more than ten days or less than three days.
