What is "ghusl"

( , ) is an Arabic term referring to the full body washing ablution mandatory before the performance of various rituals and prayers, for any adult Muslim after having sexual intercourse, orgasmic discharge (e.g. semen), completion of the menstrual cycle.

The washing is also recommended but not required (i.e. it is mustahab) before the Friday sermon prayer and Eid prayers, before entering the ehram, in preparation for hajj, after having lost consciousness, and after formally converting to Islam. Shia Muslims also perform the ablution before Namaz-e-tawbah (Prayer of Repentance).

Ghusl is often translated as "full ablution", as opposed to the "partial ablution", of wudu وضوء, that Muslims perform after lesser impurities such as urination, defecation, breaking wind, deep sleep, light bleeding, etc.