Answered by Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat
Question
I know the situations which make ghusl obligatory, but when I wake up after a wet dream, I usually never see any wetness. If I try to push something out of my private part, sometimes I recognize a little bit of semen, after which I perform ghusl.
What if I woke up not remembering any sexual dreams, but I feel something sticky, like a viscous fluid? What if I woke up remembering a sexual dream I try to push out the semen but nothing comes out?
Answer
I pray you are well.
Ghusl is only obligatory if you actually ejaculate. The dream is of no legal consequence. If you find the presence, or sign, of the discharge of semen you need to perform a ghusl.
You are not expected to try and push anything out. Just look, and base the ruling on that. You’ll find that madhy (pre-cum) is discharged in a much smaller amount than semen. If there are traces of a larger discharge perform ghusl, otherwise, washing the privates and wudu is sufficient.
Keep Religious Practice Simple
The Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “Indeed, the [practice of] the religion is ease in itself. No one makes it hard on themselves except that it overwhelms them.” [Bukhari] Try to use this approach. Take what you have learned and apply it in the most direct way.
This is a very beneficial, practical solution to a lot of scenarios. Generally, the Devil makes people worry about issues of purity and prayer to the degree that they convince themselves that nothing is valid, and they will be punished! Relax. Be optimistic, and don’t add any measures yourself to your purification and prayer which are not from the sunna.
May Allah bless you with ease and every success.
[Shaykh] Abdul-Rahim Reasat
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani