When Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) bathed because of sexual intercourse, he first washed his hands: he then poured water with his right hand on his left hand and washed his private parts. He then performed ablution as is done for prayer'. He then took some water and put his fingers and moved them through the roots of his hair. And when he found that these had been properly mois- tened, then poured three handfuls on his head and then poured water over his body and subsequently washed his feet.
The Book of Menstruation - Sahih Muslim 316a
This narration from the esteemed collection of Sahih Muslim details the precise manner in which the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) performed the major ritual bath (ghusl) following sexual intercourse, serving as a perfect model for the Ummah.
Commentary on the Procedure
The initial washing of the hands is an act of purification and preparation, ensuring physical and spiritual cleanliness before touching water for the sacred act of ghusl.
Using the right hand to pour water on the left to wash the private parts emphasizes the methodical and hygienic nature of the Islamic purification ritual, removing physical impurity (najasah) first.
The Integral Ablution
Performing the minor ablution (wudu) as for prayer *within* the major ablution underscores that ghusl encompasses and perfects wudu. It ensures all limbs washed in wudu are purified again with the intention of the greater purification.
Ensuring Water Reaches the Scalp
The action of running wet fingers through the roots of the hair is a meticulous step to guarantee that the base requirement for ghusl—that water reaches the entire body, including the skin under the hair—is fulfilled without necessarily undoing braids, demonstrating the Shari'ah's facilitation.
The Final Pouring and Washing
Pouring three handfuls of water over the head is a Sunnah act that ensures thorough wetting. Washing the entire body follows, and the final washing of the feet last indicates that if one was in a state of wudu before starting ghusl, the feet are washed at the end to maintain their purity for the duration of the bath, completing the ritual in a state of full purity (taharah).