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Excessive Wet Dreams and Ejaculation

Answered as per Hanafi Fiqh by Mathabah.org

Answered by Shaykh Yūsuf Badāt

Question:

I am 18 years old and have had ejaculations in dreams for over 4 years. For about 1 year now, I have dreams in which I get up and am about to ejaculate, then sometimes I cannot resist and do something that the penis is aroused.  Is that arām (islamicaly unlawful) what I did? Could you tell me what to do when something like this happens? Something to do that does not involve masturbation please.

Answer:

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيْم

In the name of Allāh, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

Jazāk Allāh Khayr/ Thank you for contacting Mathābah Institute.

As one hits puberty and adulthood, having a wet dream (itilām) is natural and a part of life. There is nothing sinful or unwarranted in a natural process. What is detestable is that a person deliberately prompts ejaculation in islamicaly unlawful ways. When you experience a wet dream, you must perform ghusl (ritual bath) and get in to the state of purity. – (See: Rad Al-Muḥtār, Vol 1, Page 164, Dār Al-Fikr)[1]

To avoid excessive wet dreams, here-below are some recommendations:

  • Be punctual with your religious practices such as prayers, recitation and remembrance (dhikr).
  • Consult your doctor and seek medical advice.
  • Live a healthy lifestyle. Avoid unnecessary stress.
  • Observe fasting consistently, at least two days a week.
  • Guard your gazes and thoughts from impermissible sexuality, promiscuity, pornography and immorality.
  • Get married if you are mature enough, responsible and independent.
  • Make dua’a (supplications) to the Almighty to assist you in your difficulties.

“Success is really attained by the believers …. who guard their private parts except from their wives or from those (bondwomen who are) owned by their hands, as they are not to be blamed. However, those who seek (sexual pleasure) beyond that are the transgressors.” – (Qur’ān 23:1-7)[2]

“O young men, those among you who can support a wife should marry, for it restrains eyes (from casting evil glances) and preserves one from immorality; but he who cannot take on the responsibility, should observe fast for it is a means of controlling the sexual desire.” – (Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 3233)[3]

Sulaymān ibn Yasār reported that ‘Omar ibn Khaṭṭāb went out early in the morning to his land in Juruf and found semen on his garment. He said, “I have been tried with [excessive] wet dreams since I have been entrusted with governing the people.” He did ghusl and washed his garment of what he saw of the semen, and then prayed.” – (Muwaṭṭā Mālik 113)[4]

Only Allāh knows best


[1] إذَا نَامَ مُضْطَجِعًا أَوْ تَيَقَّنَ أَنَّهُ مَنِيٌّ أَوْ تَذَكَّرَ حُلْمًا فَعَلَيْهِ الْغُسْلُ – كتاب الدر المختار وحاشية ابن عابدين رد المحتار ج١/ ص ١٦٤ دارالفكر

[2] قَدْ أَفْلَحَ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ الَّذِينَ هُمْ فِي صَلَاتِهِمْ خَاشِعُونَ وَالَّذِينَ هُمْ عَنِ اللَّغْوِ مُعْرِضُونَ وَالَّذِينَ هُمْ لِلزَّكَاةِ فَاعِلُونَ وَالَّذِينَ هُمْ لِفُرُوجِهِمْ حَافِظُونَ إِلَّا عَلَىٰ أَزْوَاجِهِمْ أَوْ مَا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَانُهُمْ فَإِنَّهُمْ غَيْرُ مَلُومِينَ فَمَنِ ابْتَغَىٰ وَرَاءَ ذَٰلِكَ فَأُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الْعَادُون – سورة المؤمنون ١-٧

[3] يَا مَعْشَرَ الشَّبَابِ مَنِ اسْتَطَاعَ مِنْكُمُ الْبَاءَةَ فَلْيَتَزَوَّجْ فَإِنَّهُ أَغَضُّ لِلْبَصَرِ وَأَحْصَنُ لِلْفَرْجِ وَمَنْ لَمْ يَسْتَطِعْ فَعَلَيْهِ بِالصَّوْمِ فَإِنَّهُ لَهُ وِجَاءٌ – اخرجه مسلم ٣٢٣٣

[4] عَنْ سُلَيْمَانَ بْنِ يَسَارٍ أَنَّ عُمَرَ بْنَ الْخَطَّابِ غَدَا إِلَى أَرْضِهِ بِالْجُرُفِ فَوَجَدَ فِي ثَوْبِهِ احْتِلاَمًا فَقَالَ لَقَدِ ابْتُلِيتُ بِالاِحْتِلاَمِ مُنْذُ وُلِّيتُ أَمْرَ النَّاسِ ‏‏فَاغْتَسَلَ وَغَسَلَ مَا رَأَى فِي ثَوْبِهِ مِنَ الاِحْتِلاَمِ ثُمَّ صَلَّى بَعْدَ أَنْ طَلَعَتِ الشَّمْسُ – اخرجه مالك في المؤطا ١١٣

This answer was collected from Mathabah.org. It’s an Islamic educational institute based in Canada. The questions are generally answered by Sheikh Yusuf Badat and Sheikh Omar Subedar.