The Complete Form of the Full Bath, after the Practice of the Prophet ﷺ
What is the recommended complete form of the full bath, and what are its steps in each school?
He begins by washing his hands three times, then removes any filth on his body, then performs the ablution as for prayer — delaying the washing of the feet if he is standing in gathered water — then pours water over his head three times, then over his right side and then his left, covering the body and rubbing it.
It is sunnah that he begin by washing his hands, and recommended that he remove any filth on his body, then wash the parts of the ablution completely once, then pour water over his head three times, beginning with the upper body and the right side. Rubbing and keeping the washing continuous are obligatory in it.
Its transmitted form: he washes his hands, removes any filth on his body, performs the ablution as for prayer, works his fingers into the roots of his hair until they are wetted, pours water over his head three times, then covers the rest of his body beginning with the right side, rubbing and keeping the washing continuous.
The sunnah is that he begin by washing his hands, then wash his private parts and whatever filth is on them, then perform the ablution as for prayer, then pour three handfuls over his head, wetting the roots of the hair, then pour water over the rest of his body beginning with the right side, rubbing what he can and keeping the washing continuous.