The word janabah refers to anyone who emits maniy (semen) or has intercourse; it is so called because he must avoid (ijtinab) prayer and other acts of worship until he has purified himself. The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) taught us in both word and deed how to do ghusl to cleanse ourselves from janabah, and the etiquette and Sunnahs of doing so. In this hadith, ‘A’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) narrates that when the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) wanted to do ghusl to cleanse himself from janabah, he would wash his hands; what is meant is that he would wash his hands before doing ghusl and before putting his hand into the vessel to take some water, as is proven in another report. This is an example of prophetic etiquette, and is done so as to ensure that the hand is pure and that nothing dirty is stuck to it, so as not to contaminate the water. Thus he could be certain that the water was completely pure..