Q: I need clarification on this issue. I would appreciate a detailed response if that is ok. Does mere orgasm in a man or woman require ghusl? I was studying fiqh [quduri] with a brother and he said even if you have an orgasm and nothing comes out ghusl will be required. His reasoning was the text mentions leaving its place of origin [i.e. the loins] and when you orgasm this sperm leaves its place of origin. I further asked him what if you took 40 steps or slept or urinated and then sperm came out without desire, he said even then ghusl required as it is stuck in the passageway and will come out with urination. But sunnipath says otherwise:
In the Hanafi school, in order for the ejaculation to nullify ritual purity, it must be accompanied with sexual gratification (shah-wah) at the time of leaving it’s place of origin (i.e. the loins). Once orgasm has begun and based on it ejaculate exists from the penis, ritual purification will be nullified. According to the stronger opinion within the school, forceful exiting in spurts is not a condition provided that the initial cause was orgasm and sexual gratification (and not lifting some heavy object etc.). Given this, semen which remained in the passageway and exited after the completion of ghusl will require that the ghusl be repeated. However, when sleep, urinating or excessive walking occurs after the bath and before the exiting of the semen, due to these movements cleaning the passageway and halting the dripping of all semen, any semen to exit thereafter will not be attributed to the initial gratification. In the latter case, owing to absence of sexual gratification, ritual purity will remain intact. [Ibn Abidin, Radd al-Muhtar, 1.160]
Is there a difference of opinion?
A: According to the Hanafi mazhab, ghusal will only be compulsory if semen came out with desire and force. Hence if one had an orgasm and nothing had come out, ghusal will not be compulsory.
And Allah Ta’ala (الله تعالى) knows best.
Answered by:
Mufti Zakaria Makada
Checked & Approved:
Mufti Ebrahim Salejee (Isipingo Beach)