Praise be to Allaah.
Firstly:
You do not have to follow a particular madhhab; rather you
have to ask a scholar whom you trust, one who is famous among the people for
his knowledge and virtue, then follow the religious rulings that he explains
to you. It does not matter if there are differences of opinion among the
scholars concerning religious matters, because this is something that Allaah
has willed by His wisdom, and the Muslim who is not able to work out the
truth (ijtihaad) is only obliged to ask the scholars, and he does not have
to do more than that.
Secondly:
In the answer to question number
11497, we have explained how
to do wudoo’ (ablution) for minor impurity in detail. Please refer to this
question.
Thirdly:
With regard to how to do ablution (ghusl) for major impurity,
the answer is:
There are two forms of ghusl:
Acceptable form: in the sense that if a person only does
ghusl in this manner, his ghusl is valid and he becomes purified from major
impurity. But if a person this kind of ghusl properly, his ghusl is not
valid.
Complete and preferred form: this is the type which it is
mustahabb to do but is not obligatory.
As for the obligatory and acceptable form it is as follows:
1.
Form the intention to purify
oneself from impurity: janaabah (impurity following sexual discharge),
menses or nifaas (postpartum bleeding).
2.
Wash the entire body with water
once, making sure that the water reaches the roots of the hair and the
places that it cannot reach easily, such as the armpits and backs of the
knees, as well as rinsing the mouth and nose, according to the correct
scholarly opinion.
Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (may Allaah have mercy on him) said in
al-Sharh al-Mumti’ (1/423):
The evidence that this ghusl is valid is the words of Allaah
(interpretation of the meaning): “If you are in a state of Janaaba (i.e.
after a sexual discharge), purify yourselves (bathe your whole body)”
[al-Maa’idah 5:6]. Allaah did not mention anything apart from that. If a
person washes his entire body once, then it is true to say that he has
purified himself. End quote.
As for the complete form, it is as follows
1.
Form the intention in the heart
to purify oneself from major impurity: janaabah (impurity following sexual
discharge), menses or nifaas (postpartum bleeding).
2.
Then say Bismillah and wash the
hands three times, then wash any dirt from the private part.
3.
Then do wudoo’ as for prayer, a
complete wudoo’.
4.
Then pour water over the head
three times, and rub the hair so that the water reaches the roots of the
hair.
5.
Then wash the body, making sure
that the water reaches all parts, starting with the right side of the body
and then the left, and rubbing it with the hands so that the water reaches
the entire body.
The evidence for this mustahabb form of ghusl is:
It was narrated that ‘Aa’ishah (may Allaah be pleased with
her) said: When the Messenger of Allaah (blessings and peace of Allaah be
upon him) did ghusl for janaabah, he would wash his hands and do wudoo’ as
for prayer, then he would wash himself, then he would run his fingers
through his hair, then when he thought that it [the water] had reached his
skin, he would pour water over it [the head] three times, then he would wash
the rest of his body.
Narrated by al-Bukhaari (248) and Muslim (316).
And it was narrated that she (may Allaah be pleased with her)
said: When the Messenger of Allaah (blessings and peace of Allaah be upon
him) did ghusl from janaabah, he would call for something like a vessel used
for milking and take water in his palm. He started with the right side of
his head, then the left, then he took water in both palms and poured it all
over his head.
Narrated by al-Bukhaari (258) and Muslim (318).
See also the answer to question number
10790.
One of the important rulings concerning this matter is that
ghusl for major impurity takes the place of wudoo’, so the person who has
done ghusl, whether the complete or the acceptable form, does not have to
repeat wudoo', unless he does something that invalidates purity whilst doing
ghusl.
See the answer to question number
68854.