Fatwa ID: 08169

Answered by: Alimah Saniyah bint Asrar

Question:

I want your guidance in a matter I feel I am stuck in… I have read a lot, but it makes me confused even more.

What is actually the definition of a wet dream? I have read that for women it is a dream in which she reaches orgasm or feels spasms and Ghusl is only Fardh in this case! Does it mean if we have a dream in which only arousal is felt (a feeling by which Mazi discharges) or pleasure is felt, is it also counted as a wet dream and needed Ghusl, or only a dream in which orgasm or spasms are felt is counted as a wet dream and needs Ghusl while discharge is present?

As in my case, after a wet dream I do not see any apparent wetness when I wake up on the private parts and clothes, because mostly in the dream I feel sometimes orgasms or spurting, sometimes only arousing feeling, and sometimes a wave-like pleasure is felt. But when I wake up, I don’t see any apparent discharge on my private parts or on my clothes. But when I check inside the labia minora (inner lips) with hand, there is a discharge which is sometimes just on the surface of the opening, sometimes a little more, and sometimes so much less that it feels like moisture that when I check a second time, it disappears.

So do we have to check every time like that with cotton/tissue/or with a finger inside the inner lips (meaning the vaginal opening surface which is just after the labia minora if inner lips were opened—not inside the vagina or vaginal hole) if we don’t find any visible discharge on the lips?

Because I have learned on the Islamic sites what the majority opinion said that Ghusl is only Fardh if you see visible discharge on body or clothes… otherwise not!!

So does that mean we have to see a discharge to the outward most visible area of private parts (area when the lips are closed), meaning the area which is visible when a woman is sitting or standing?

Actually what makes me most in doubt is that after a dream when I woke up and checked inside the inner lips, there was nothing and mostly oily-type, but sometimes when I check again and again with my finger on the surface of the opening to make myself sure that there is nothing, a very little discharge came out. And sometimes that little bit of discharge is already there and comes out with one check. That’s what makes me in severe doubts about my Ghusl—whether it should be done or not? What should I do in that case?

Can it happen that after a dream when we check there is nothing but discharge comes out afterward, i.e., after urination? Because normally our normal vaginal discharge comes out after urination as well and of different texture depending upon the cycle, so what should we do?

In all the above scenarios/feelings I have in a dream which I have told you… in all those cases, the discharge is the same transparent slippery type. I have learned that the Mani of women is thin and yellowish, but I always have the same transparent discharge and sometimes a little white mixed in it (which is mostly my vaginal discharge). Means even if I have orgasm or just arousal, or just pleasure feeling, the discharge is of same consistency… so do I consider it as Mazi and not do Ghusl? Because I always have a dominant feeling that it is Mazi!! So do I consider it as Mazi and just do Wudhu?

I have learned that the texture of Mani of women may change due to a lot of factors like sickness or medications. I am a patient of a chronic disease and on lifetime medications. Does that affect the texture of my discharge? And should I take Ghusl if I feel orgasm/spasms in sleep and see discharge regardless of its texture or consistency?

I have learned that Ghusl is only Fardh with orgasmic/spasmic fluid otherwise no need of Ghusl? So if I feel arousal only or pleasure-like feeling I don’t have to make Ghusl? And secondly, I have read on one Islamic site (Fatwa Centre Whitethread) in which they said that the orgasmic discharge of women is sometimes so little that it cannot be recognized as per recent female sexuality and can dry up overnight. Orgasm is the proof that you have a discharge, so you should make Ghusl although you don’t see anything!!

Although the majority of scholars’ opinion is that you must see the discharge in order to oblige Ghusl—is that correct?

What makes me more in fear is that some say that the discharge depends on the intensity of your sexual desire—means if the intensity is low the discharge is less and if the intensity is high then the discharge is more. I have sometimes little high, not extreme intense, sexual desires in dreams and sometimes very little like wave-like pleasure feeling and very little spurting type feeling. But when I check inside the lips, sometimes no discharge and sometimes little discharge inside the lips like transparent… so should I consider them and make Ghusl or consider it as Mazi and make Wudhu? Because what the majority says is that the discharge of sexual dream (Mani) is more in consistency and volume than others and can come outside. And we don’t have to auto explore by checking!!

Can it happen that in a dream you feel orgasms but when you wake and check, that discharge is Mazi, not Mani? Means only Mazi came out, not Mani?

Need your earliest guidance in that…

Was’salam…

Answer:

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيْم
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

A wet dream occurs when an individual experiences an arousing dream that leads to involuntary fluid release. For men, this results in noticeable wetness on their garments upon waking. For women, the front private part may become moist. The discharged fluid could be Mani (semen), Mazi (pre-coital fluid), or Wadi (a liquid that appears before urination).

If visible discharge is present on the outside of your private parts or clothing, then Ghusl is required. If no discharge is seen externally, Ghusl is not obligatory. You are not required to check internally.

If you remain unsure, follow the general ruling that Mani is more in volume and consistency compared to Mazi.

فتح باب العناية بشرح النقاية ١/‏٧٩

ولهما ما روى أبو داود والترمذي: عن عائشة قالتْ: سُئِلَ رسول الله ﷺ عن الرَّجُل يَجدُ البَلَل ولا يَذْكُر احتلامًا؟ قال: «يَغتَسِلُ»، وعن الرَّجُل يَرى أنه قد احتَلم ولا يَجِدُ البَلَل؟ قال: «لا غُسْلَ عليه». فقالت أمُّ سَلَمة: يا رسول الله قالمرأةُ تَرى ذلك أعليها الغُسْلُ؟ قال: «نعم، إنما النِّساءُ شَقَائقُ الرجال». ولأنَّ النوم مظِنَّةُ الاحتلام فيُحمَل عليه، ثم يُحتمَلُ أنه كان مَنِيًّا فرَقَّ بواسطةِ الهواء، والاحتياطُ لازمٌ في بابِ العبادات.

حاشية الطحطاوي على مراقي الفلاح شرح نور الإيضاح ١/‏٩٩

قوله: «لا يوجب الغسل» أي ولا ينقض الوضوء قوله: «ومنها وجود ماء رقيق بعد النوم» حاصل مسئلة النوم إثنا عشر وجها كما في البحر لأنه إما أن يتيقن أنه مني أو مذي أو ودي أو يشك في الأول مع الثاني أو في الأول مع الثالث أو في الثاني مع الثالث فهذه ستة وفي كل منها أما أن يتذكر إحتلاما أو لا فتمت الإثنا عشر فيجب الغسل إتفاقا فيما إذا تيقن أنه متى تذكر إحتلاما أو لا وكذا فيما إذا تيقن أنه مذي وتذكر الإحتلام أو شك أنه مني أو مذي أو شك أنه مني أو شك أنه مذي أو ودي وتذكر الإحتلام في الكل ولا يجب الغسل اتفاقا فيما إذا تيقن أنه ودي مطلقا تذكر الإحتلام أو لا أو شك أنه مذي أو ودي ولم يتذكر أو تيقن أنه مذي ولم يتذكر ويجب الغسل عندهما لا عند أبي يوسف فيما إذا شك أنه مني أو مذي أو شك أنه مني أو ودي ولم يتذكر إحتلاما فيهما والمراد بالتيقن هنا غلبة الظن لأن حقيقة اليقين متعذرة مع النوم قوله: «وقد يرق المني لعارض» كالهواء أو الغذاء قال في الخلاصة ولسنا نوجب الغسل بالمذي ولكن المني قد يرق بطول المدة فتصير صورته كصورة المذي اهـ

Only Allah (عز و جل) knows best.

Written by Alimah Saniyah bint Asrar

Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham