Tell us the ghusl of janabah of a man and the ghusl of janabah of a woman.

The obligatory acts (the same for both): (1) Rinsing the mouth — the water reaches every part of the mouth; (2) Putting water into the nose — up to the soft bone; (3) Pouring water over the whole body — from the hair of the head to the soles of the feet, not a hair's breadth should remain dry.

The Sunnah method: Intention and tasmiyah ("بِسْمِ اللَّهِ"); washing both hands up to the wrists three times; cleaning the private parts and impurity with the left hand; washing the hand with soap/earth; a complete wudu like that of prayer (if water is collecting, the feet at the end); pouring water over the head three times — it reaches the roots; pouring water first over the right shoulder, then the left, and over the whole body; rubbing the body is also Sunnah.

The difference (hair): It is not necessary for a woman to undo plaited hair/a braid — pouring three handfuls of water over the head so that it reaches the roots is sufficient. The evidence: in answer to the question of Sayyidah Umm Salamah, may Allah be pleased with her, he, peace and blessings be upon him, said: "لَا، إِنَّمَا يَكْفِيكِ أَنْ تَحْثِي عَلَى رَأْسِكِ ثَلَاثَ حَثَيَاتٍ ثُمَّ تُفِيضِينَ عَلَيْكِ الْمَاءَ فَتَطْهُرِينَ" (No; it is enough for you to pour three handfuls over your head, then pour water over yourself, and you will be purified) [Sahih Muslim: 330]. A man's hair is usually loose — wetting all the hair up to the roots is necessary; if he has plaits, undoing them is necessary (the concession was given to women in view of hardship and modesty).

Summary: The method is one and the same; women have the facility of not undoing the braid, while for a man it is obligatory that the water reach the roots of all his hair.

Translated from the original Urdu fatwa.