Whenever Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) took Ghusl (bath) after sexual intercourse, he would begin by washing his hands, then pour water with his right hand on his left hand and wash his sexual organ. He would then perform ablution, then take some water and run his fingers through the roots of the hair. Then he would pour three handfuls on his head, then pour water over the rest of his body and subsequently wash his feet. [Agreed upon and this version is of Muslim]
The Book of Purification - Bulugh al-Maram 119
This narration from the Mother of the Believers, 'A'isha (may Allah be pleased with her), details the precise manner in which the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) performed the major ritual bath (ghusl) following sexual intercourse or seminal discharge. The method described is comprehensive and serves as the sunnah for all believers.
Commentary on the Procedure
The Prophet (ﷺ) began by washing his hands. Scholars state this is to remove any impurity that may be on them before touching the rest of the body.
He then used his right hand to pour water onto his left hand to wash his private parts. This emphasizes cleanliness and the proper use of the hands, with the right hand for purity and the left for cleaning impurities.
He then performed a complete ablution (wudu'), just as one would for prayer. This indicates that the state of minor impurity is included within the state of major impurity, and the wudu' is an integral part of the ghusl.
The act of running his fingers through the roots of his hair ensures that water reaches the scalp, which is a condition for the validity of ghusl. If the hair is thick, it is sufficient to wet the roots; if it is braided, it is not obligatory to undo it, but one must ensure water reaches the base of the hair.
Pouring three handfuls of water over the head fulfills the obligation of washing the entire head. The number three is the sunnah, though once is sufficient for the obligation (fard).
Finally, he poured water over the rest of his body, ensuring that every part was washed, and then washed his feet. This order, washing the feet at the end, is the most complete method, though if one washes the feet during the wudu' part of the ghusl, it is also acceptable as long as the feet are washed before the completion of the bath.
Legal Rulings (Ahkam) from the Hadith
This hadith outlines the recommended (mustahabb) method of ghusl. The obligatory components are: 1) intention, 2) rinsing the mouth, 3) sniffing water into the nostrils, and 4) washing the entire body with water.
The order described, while highly recommended, is not obligatory. If someone washes their body in a different sequence, their ghusl is still valid as long as all body parts are washed.
The hadith demonstrates the Prophet's meticulous attention to hygiene and spiritual purity, combining physical cleanliness with the remembrance and pleasure of Allah.