What is the ruling on masturbation and what are its harms, and how does one perform ghusl from it?

To get rid of the forbidden habit of masturbation, you can perform ghusl (ritual bath) from janabah (state of ritual impurity) with the intention of purification and by making water flow over the entire body. It is permissible to sleep before performing ghusl, but it is better to perform ghusl before sleeping.