Sayyida Umm Atiyya (may Allah be pleased with her) says: We were washing the daughter of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), when the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) came and said: Wash her three or five times with water and lotus leaves, or more if you feel it is necessary, but mix some camphor in the last wash. Then when you have finished, inform me. So when we finished washing, we informed him, and he (peace and blessings be upon him) gave us his lower garment and said: Wrap her first in this cloth. Sayyida Hafsa (may Allah be pleased with her) says: He (peace and blessings be upon him) had said to wash her an odd number of times, i.e., three, five, or seven times. Sayyida Umm Atiyya (may Allah be pleased with her) says: We combed her hair and divided it into three parts. In one narration: We brought the front and side hair to the back.

Qatadah says: Ibn Sirin learned the method of bathing from Sayyidah Umm ‘Atiyyah (may Allah be pleased with her). She says: We intended to bathe the daughter of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), and he (peace and blessings be upon him) instructed us to bathe her three times with water mixed with lote tree leaves. If cleanliness is achieved, then fine; otherwise, bathe her five times. If cleanliness is achieved, then fine; otherwise, bathe her more times. Sayyidah Umm ‘Atiyyah (may Allah be pleased with her) says: We think that by more than five times, seven times is meant.

It is narrated from Sayyida Umm Atiyyah (may Allah be pleased with her) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) said to her at the time of giving ghusl to his daughter: Start washing her from the right side and from the limbs of wudu.