You’re lying in bed. You woke up and something happened that you weren’t expecting. Your clothes feel different. You’re confused. Maybe embarrassed. Definitely anxious. And the absolute last thing you want to do is walk up to your mom or dad and ask what you’re supposed to do now.
Islamic teachings on purification and hygiene are clear, detailed, and absolutely essential for every Muslim who has reached puberty—but somehow, according to Islamic educators who work with Muslim youth, this remains one of the most avoided conversations in Muslim households despite being among the most important aspects of practicing Islam correctly.
Here’s what scholars of Islamic jurisprudence emphasize: purity isn’t just about being clean—it’s about being in the correct state to stand before Allah ﷻ in prayer. Without understanding these rules, your prayers might not be valid. That’s how serious this is. And that’s exactly why you need to know this information, even if it feels awkward.
This guide covers everything: when you absolutely must perform ghusl, how to do it correctly, daily hygiene practices for your private parts, when to change your clothes and underwear, and what to do after wet dreams. Everything is based on authentic hadith and scholarly consensus, explained clearly without making this weird.
What Happens When You Hit Puberty (Islamically Speaking)
Puberty isn’t just physical changes. According to Islamic legal tradition documented by scholars across all schools of thought, puberty marks the moment you become mukallaf—legally responsible before Allah ﷻ for fulfilling all Islamic obligations.
The signs of puberty for males documented in classical Islamic scholarship include the appearance of pubic hair, the emission of semen through wet dreams or otherwise, and physical maturation. For females, these signs include menstruation, pubic hair, and physical development. Islamic scholars note that puberty in Islamic law cannot begin before age nine and is automatically established by age fifteen even if other signs haven’t appeared.
When you reach this stage, five daily prayers become obligatory. Fasting in Ramadan becomes mandatory. And maintaining ritual purity becomes your personal responsibility—no one else can do this for you.
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said in a hadith recorded in Sunan Abu Dawud (Hadith 4398): “The pen has been lifted from three: from the sleeper until he wakes up, from the minor until he grows up, and from the insane until he regains his sanity.”
Translation? Before puberty, you’re not held accountable. After puberty, every prayer counts. Every fast counts. Every act of worship requires you to be in the correct state of purity. That’s why understanding these rules isn’t optional—it’s literally part of your faith.
The Two States You Need to Understand
Islamic scholars of purification teach that there are two types of impurity states: minor impurity and major impurity. Understanding the difference determines what you need to do before prayer.
Minor impurity is what requires wudu—things like using the bathroom, passing gas, or falling into deep sleep. You wash specific body parts according to the Sunnah method, and you’re ready to pray.
Major impurity is different. This is the state of janabah that Islamic legal texts define as requiring ghusl—a full body purification. According to scholarly consensus documented across all major schools of Islamic jurisprudence, you enter this state through emission of semen.
[Surah Al-Ma’idah, Ayah 6]
“O you who have believed, when you rise to prayer, wash your faces and your forearms to the elbows and wipe over your heads and wash your feet to the ankles. And if you are in a state of janabah, then purify yourselves.”
Allah ﷻ commanded purification from janabah before prayer. This isn’t a suggestion—it’s a direct command. If you pray while in a state of major impurity without performing ghusl, Islamic scholars agree that prayer is invalid and must be repeated after proper purification.
Wet Dreams: What They Are and What You Must Do
Let’s address the thing most teens are too embarrassed to ask about. Wet dreams—are completely normal, natural, and addressed directly in Islamic teachings preserved through authentic hadith collections.
A wet dream occurs when semen is released during sleep, often accompanied by a dream of a sexual nature. This is a biological process that Islamic scholars note is beyond your control and carries absolutely no sin. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and his companions (may Allah be pleased with them) addressed this topic openly because understanding it is essential for maintaining correct worship.
According to a hadith narrated by Umm Sulaym (may Allah be pleased with her) recorded in Sahih Bukhari (Book 3, Hadith 129), she came to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and asked: “O Messenger of Allah, Allah is not shy of the truth. Does a woman have to perform ghusl if she has a wet dream?” The Prophet ﷺ replied, “Yes, if she sees discharge.”
Notice what this hadith teaches you: asking about purity isn’t shameful—it’s necessary. Even the companions of the Prophet ﷺ asked these exact questions. Islamic tradition documented by early scholars shows that Allah ﷻ is not embarrassed by truth, and neither should you be when seeking knowledge about your religious obligations.
The scholarly consensus documented across Islamic jurisprudence is clear: ghusl becomes obligatory when you have a wet dream AND you see discharge (wetness or semen on your clothes or body when you wake up). If you had a dream but there’s no discharge, ghusl is not required according to the majority opinion of Islamic scholars.
Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) narrated that the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ was asked about a man who finds wetness but doesn’t remember a dream, recorded in Sunan Ibn Majah (Hadith 601). He said: “He should perform ghusl.” He was also asked about someone who has a dream but doesn’t find wetness; the Prophet ﷺ said: “No ghusl is required of him.”
The determining factor according to Islamic scholars? The presence of discharge. If you wake up and your underwear is wet or you find semen, ghusl is mandatory before your next prayer. If you just had a weird dream but there’s no physical discharge, you’re still in a state of purity.
How to Perform Ghusl: Step by Step
When ghusl becomes necessary, Islamic scholars outline specific steps based on the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. Some steps are obligatory—meaning your ghusl isn’t valid without them—while others are recommended.
According to the documented practices of early Islamic scholarship and the Sunnah method, here’s how to perform ghusl correctly:
Step 1: Make Your Intention
Before starting, make the intention in your heart that you’re performing ghusl to remove major impurity. You don’t have to say anything out loud—Allah ﷻ knows what’s in your heart.
Step 2: Say Bismillah
Begin by saying “Bismillah” (In the name of Allah).
Step 3: Wash Your Hands
Wash both hands up to the wrists three times, ensuring water reaches between your fingers.
Step 4: Wash Private Parts
Using your left hand according to Islamic etiquette taught by the Prophet ﷺ, wash your private parts thoroughly to remove any impurity. Then clean your hands with soap. This step is emphasized in scholarly texts as essential for achieving complete purification.
Step 5: Perform Complete Wudu
Perform wudu exactly as you would for prayer—wash your face three times, wash arms to elbows, wipe over your head, and wash your feet. If you’re standing in a place where water collects (like a shower), you can delay washing your feet until the very end.
Step 6: Pour Water Over Your Entire Body
This is the core obligation. Pour water over your head three times, ensuring it reaches the roots of your hair and your scalp. Then pour water over your right shoulder and entire right side of your body, then your left shoulder and entire left side. Make sure water reaches every part of your body—under your arms, your back, between your toes, everywhere.
According to Islamic legal scholars, the essential requirement is that water must touch every single part of your body’s skin. If even an area the size of a hair strand remains dry, scholars warn that the ghusl is incomplete.
Step 7: Final Foot Washing
If you delayed washing your feet during wudu, wash them now as the final step.
Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) described how the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ performed ghusl in a hadith recorded in Sahih Bukhari (Book 5, Hadith 248): “When the Prophet ﷺ took a bath because of janabah, he would start by washing his hands, then perform ablution like that for prayer, then he would put his fingers into the water and move them through the roots of his hair, then he would pour three handfuls of water on his head, then he would pour water all over his body.”
This is the Sunnah method. You don’t need special soap, special temperature water, or to spend an hour in the shower. The requirement according to scholars is simple: intention, removal of impurity, and water touching every part of your body.
Daily Hygiene: Private Parts and Istinja
Beyond ghusl for major impurity, Islamic teachings emphasize daily cleanliness practices that many Muslim teens aren’t taught properly. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said in a hadith preserved in Sahih Muslim: “Cleanliness is half of faith.”
Istinja is the Islamic term for cleaning your private parts after using the toilet. According to Islamic scholars who have documented traditional purification practices, this is not optional—it’s a required act every single time you use the bathroom.
The method taught by the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and documented by scholars of Islamic jurisprudence is straightforward: use your left hand and water to thoroughly clean the area after urination or defecation. Water is the primary tool according to the Sunnah. Toilet paper alone, while permitted by some scholars in necessity, doesn’t achieve the level of cleanliness that Islam requires.
Traditional Islamic teachings documented by early scholars note that istinja involves ensuring all traces of urine or feces are completely removed. For males, this includes a practice called istibra—making sure no drops of urine remain after urination by waiting a moment, gently pressing the area, or walking a few steps before cleaning.
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ emphasized the seriousness of this. Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated in Sahih Bukhari (Book 4, Hadith 215) that the Prophet ﷺ passed by two graves and said: “They are being punished, but they are not being punished for anything major. One of them did not protect himself from urine, and the other used to walk about spreading malicious gossip.”
Islamic scholars interpreting this hadith emphasize that failing to properly clean oneself after urination is considered a serious matter in Islam—serious enough that the Prophet ﷺ mentioned it as a cause of punishment. This shows that what might seem like a small hygiene issue is actually a major aspect of your faith.
Changing Clothes and Underwear: The Islamic Standard
Here’s a question teens rarely ask but need answered: how often should you change your underwear and clothes from an Islamic perspective?
Islamic teachings on cleanliness documented by scholars throughout history emphasize maintaining physical purity as part of faith. While there isn’t a specific hadith stating “change your underwear every 24 hours,” the principles of Islamic hygiene established by the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ make the requirement clear.
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ taught specific practices documented in Sahih hadith collections. According to narrations compiled by Islamic scholars, the Prophet ﷺ would regularly trim his nails, remove armpit and pubic hair, maintain cleanliness of his garments, and emphasized that Muslims should present themselves in a state of cleanliness, especially for prayer.
Contemporary Islamic scholars examining hygiene requirements note that daily changing of underwear has become the accepted standard, particularly after reaching puberty. The reason documented in Islamic legal texts is that underwear is in direct contact with private parts, and maintaining that area in complete cleanliness is essential for valid purification.
According to scholarly interpretations of Islamic purity requirements, if your underwear has any traces of urine, discharge, or other impurity and you can change it, you should. Praying in clothing with impurity on it raises questions about prayer validity that scholars debate depending on the amount and nature of the impurity.
The practical Islamic standard emphasized by contemporary Muslim scholars is: change your underwear daily, change immediately if you notice any discharge or impurity, and keep spare clean clothes available if possible. Outer clothing should be changed when visibly dirty or when it carries noticeable odors.
What to Do Right After a Wet Dream
It’s 5:00 AM. The Fajr adhan is about to go off. You wake up and realize you had a wet dream. Now what?
According to Islamic legal requirements documented by scholars, if you find discharge, you’re in a state of janabah. You must perform ghusl before you can pray. There’s no way around this—prayer without ghusl after a wet dream with discharge is invalid according to scholarly consensus.
But what if you’re late for school? What if someone will notice you showering at a weird time? What if you’re traveling?
Islamic scholars address these exact scenarios. If you have access to water and are physically capable of performing ghusl, it’s obligatory immediately so you don’t miss your prayer time. The scholars note that modesty and avoiding drawing attention are important, but not more important than fulfilling your obligation to Allah ﷻ.
If you’re in a situation where performing ghusl is genuinely impossible—you’re traveling with no water access, you’re extremely ill, or water would cause you serious harm—Islamic law provides an alternative called tayammum (dry ablution using clean earth or dust). However, scholars emphasize this is only permissible in genuine necessity, not mere inconvenience.
[Surah Al-Ma’idah, Ayah 6]
“But if you are ill or on a journey or one of you comes from the place of relieving himself or you have contacted women and find no water, then seek clean earth and wipe over your faces and your hands with it. Allah does not intend to make difficulty for you, but He intends to purify you and complete His favor upon you that you may be grateful.”
Allah ﷻ makes it clear: He doesn’t want to make this difficult for you. If there’s genuine hardship, there’s ease in Islam. But if you can perform ghusl, you must.
Practical steps Islamic educators recommend for teens: keep track of your state of purity, know how to perform quick but complete ghusl (five minutes is enough if you focus on the requirements), and plan around prayer times when possible. If you wake up late and find discharge, perform ghusl quickly—purity comes before praying exactly on time.
The Questions You’re Still Too Embarrassed to Ask
Let’s address the specific questions Muslim teens ask online but won’t ask their parents, based on common concerns documented by Islamic educators working with youth.
“What if I’m not sure if I had discharge or it’s just sweat?”
Islamic scholars provide clear guidance: if you’re not certain, you’re not required to perform ghusl. Doubt doesn’t create obligation in Islamic law. The principle documented by scholars of Islamic jurisprudence is that certainty isn’t removed by doubt. If you clearly see semen or wetness that you’re certain is discharge, ghusl is required. If you’re genuinely uncertain, you can simply perform wudu and pray.
“What if I see a tiny bit of wetness—like a small spot?”
According to scholarly consensus, even a small amount requires ghusl. The determining factor isn’t quantity according to Islamic legal texts—it’s the nature of what was emitted. If you had a wet dream with any sexual fluid emission, the obligation applies.
“Do I have to tell my parents or anyone?”
Absolutely not. Islamic scholars emphasize that matters of purity are between you and Allah ﷻ. You don’t have to announce to anyone that you performed ghusl or explain why you’re showering. Privacy in these matters is actually encouraged in Islamic teachings.
“What if discharge got on my sheets or mattress?”
Islamic scholars distinguish between types of fluid. Semen (mani) is considered pure according to the majority scholarly opinion, so you don’t have to wash the sheets, though you certainly can. Other sexual fluids like madhi (pre-seminal fluid) are considered impure and should be washed according to Islamic purity laws. The practical approach documented by scholars: if you’re uncertain about the type of fluid, wash the spot with water to be sure.
“Can I pray if I’ve tried my best to clean but I’m still worried I’m not completely pure?”
Islamic scholars teach the principle of reasonable effort. If you’ve performed istinja properly, ensured all visible impurity is removed, and performed wudu or ghusl as required, then you’re in a state of purity. Shaytan loves to create doubts about cleanliness to keep you from praying. The scholars emphasize: do your best, fulfill the requirements, and don’t let obsessive doubt prevent you from worship.
Maintaining Cleanliness at School or Public Places
One of the biggest challenges Muslim teens face is maintaining Islamic hygiene standards when you’re away from home—at school, traveling, or in public restrooms that don’t have water sprayers.
Islamic educators working with Muslim youth recommend practical solutions. Small portable water bottles designed for this purpose (sometimes called portable bidets) can fit in your backpack discreetly. When using public restrooms, you can use toilet paper first, then use your portable water bottle to complete proper istinja in the privacy of the stall.
Contemporary Muslim scholars emphasize that maintaining istinja is not optional—it’s required. According to Islamic legal principles documented across schools of thought, you must find a way to clean properly with water after using the bathroom. This might require some planning, but your prayers depend on your state of purity.
If you’re genuinely in a situation where water is completely unavailable and you must use the bathroom, Islamic scholars note that using toilet paper or other clean materials is permissible as a temporary substitute, but you should clean with water at the first opportunity.
The scholars also address the common teen concern about changing clothes at school if an accident happens. Keep a spare set of underwear and pants in your locker or bag. Islamic legal scholars emphasize that protecting your state of purity takes priority over minor social awkwardness.
The Spiritual Dimension Nobody Talks About
Here’s what gets lost in all the physical details: Islamic purification isn’t just about being physically clean. According to scholars of Islamic spirituality who have written extensively on inner purification, the physical acts of washing connect to the spiritual act of returning to Allah ﷻ.
Every time you perform wudu, scholars note you’re symbolically washing away minor spiritual impurities. Every time you perform ghusl, you’re renewing your state of spiritual purity. Allah ﷻ loves cleanliness not just because it’s hygienic, but because it represents the state of your heart before Him.
[Surah Al-Baqarah, Ayah 222]
“Indeed, Allah loves those who are constantly repentant and loves those who purify themselves.”
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ connected physical and spiritual purity in ways that Islamic scholars have explained through generations. When you stand before Allah ﷻ in prayer, you stand both physically clean and spiritually attentive. The outer cleanliness prepares you for the inner state of presence.
Scholars of Islamic spirituality teach that teens who maintain these purification practices consistently develop discipline, self-awareness, and consciousness of Allah ﷻ that transforms their entire relationship with worship. What starts as “I have to perform ghusl” gradually becomes “I want to stand before my Lord in complete purity.”
Your Practical Action Plan Starting Today
Enough theory. Here’s exactly what you need to do starting right now, based on clear Islamic requirements documented by scholars:
Daily baseline: Change your underwear every morning. Perform istinja with water after every bathroom use. Perform wudu before each prayer. Maintain general bodily cleanliness by showering regularly.
After wet dreams with discharge: Perform complete ghusl before your next prayer. Change your underwear and any clothes that have impurity on them. If you’re uncertain whether you had discharge, you don’t need ghusl, but when in doubt, performing it removes all uncertainty.
For daily hygiene tools: Get a small water bottle or portable bidet you can take to school or when traveling. Keep spare underwear in your bag. Have a small hand towel for drying after istinja if needed.
Learning the methods: Practice performing proper ghusl when you’re not rushed. Know the minimum requirements versus the recommended Sunnah method. Memorize the steps so you can perform them quickly when needed.
Tracking your state: Be aware of whether you’re in a state of minor impurity (needs wudu) or major impurity (needs ghusl). Plan your prayer times accordingly. Don’t delay obligatory prayers because of laziness in purifying yourself.
According to guidance from Islamic scholars counseling Muslim youth, the hardest part is the first two weeks. Once these practices become habit, they feel as natural as brushing your teeth. Your body adjusts, your routine incorporates them, and you stop feeling awkward about something that every single practicing Muslim does every single day.
The Conversation You Need to Have (Eventually)
Look, this guide gives you everything you need to practice Islam correctly regarding purification. But at some point, according to Islamic educators and family counselors working in Muslim communities, having a real conversation with a parent, older sibling, or trusted Islamic teacher becomes important.
Not because you’re doing anything wrong. Not because this is shameful. But because part of growing up in Islam means connecting Islamic knowledge to community wisdom, asking questions when scholarly opinions differ, and learning from the experience of those who’ve walked this path before you.
Islamic tradition documented throughout history shows that the companions (may Allah be pleased with them) asked the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ these exact questions without embarrassment. Umm Sulaym (may Allah be pleased with her) asked directly about wet dreams. Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) taught about menstruation and purification. These topics were discussed openly because they’re essential knowledge for proper worship.
Contemporary Islamic scholars emphasize that the Western cultural embarrassment around these topics isn’t Islamic—it’s actually preventing Muslims from learning obligations that directly affect whether their prayers are valid. The scholars encourage parents to initiate these conversations, but if they don’t, it’s your responsibility to seek knowledge from reliable Islamic sources.
If you genuinely can’t talk to family, reach out to an imam at your local mosque, a trusted Islamic teacher, or use verified Islamic Q&A websites run by qualified scholars. Your practice of Islam depends on understanding these rules correctly.
The Bottom Line From Islamic Scholarship
Puberty marks the beginning of your accountability before Allah ﷻ. With that comes the responsibility to understand and maintain the states of purification that make your worship valid.
Ghusl is required after wet dreams with discharge or sexual intercourse. Daily hygiene including istinja with water and regular changing of underwear is essential. These aren’t suggestions—they’re requirements documented in clear hadith and agreed upon by Islamic scholars across all schools of thought.
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said in a hadith recorded in Sahih Bukhari (Book 2, Hadith 46): “If anyone of you rouses from sleep and performs ablution, he should wash his nose by putting water in it and then blowing it out thrice, because Satan has stayed in the upper part of his nose all the night.”
Even the simple act of cleaning your nose becomes an act of worship with intention. Similarly, every aspect of the purification you maintain is an act of obedience to Allah ﷻ—protecting your prayer, honoring your body, and standing before your Creator in the state He commanded.
You’re not too young to understand this. You’re exactly the right age to learn it, practice it, and make it part of your identity as a Muslim who takes their faith seriously.
Disclaimer: This article is provided for general educational and informational purposes only. While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy in presenting Islamic teachings, readers are strongly advised to consult qualified Islamic scholars in their local area for specific religious rulings, detailed interpretations, and matters requiring expert guidance.