What Parts Of a Woman’s Body Need To Be Washed During Ghusl?

Question:  I had taken a course on menses. It came up that it is good for a woman, in the ghusl, to pull back the clitoris to wash that area.

1) For years I did not know this, the right thing would be to assume my past Ghusls were valid, yes?
2) I was taught to clean the area for smegma, but if dead white skin ever remains in the clitoris, my ghusl is still valid yes?
3) When I learned and the first time I cleaned the clitoris for dead skin it was a little stuck together, should I worry about my past Ghusls?

Answer: In the name of Allah, Most Compassionate, Most Merciful,

Assalam’aleykum, I pray this finds you in the best of states.

Jazakum Allah khayr for your question!

1-Only the external part of the vagina needs to be washed because it is akin to the mouth. As for the internal part of the vagina, it does not need to be washed because it is akin to the throat. In addition to this, a woman should not and does not need to put her fingers in her vagina to perform a valid ritual bath. [Ibn Abidin; Radd Al-Muhtar]

The external part of the vagina is defined as what can be seen from it when a woman is standing or sitting. As for the internal part, it can only be seen when a woman is reclining on something. [Ibn Abidin; Radd Al-Muhtar]

2-Dead skin, like any other type of dirt on the body or under the nails, does not prevent the validity of your washing because the origin of the dead skin is from the body. [Tahtawi; Maraqi Al-Falah’s gloss] This would include smegma. Thus you do not have to worry about past ghusls during which you did not fully remove this substance.

And Allah knows best.

I hope that the above answers your question. If something is unclear please do not hesitate to ask again.

May Allah Most High grant you the best of this world and the next. Please keep us in your du’as!

Wassalam

[Ustadh] Sufyan Qufi