Question # 374: Assalamu ‘Alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh i WANT TO KNOW THAT IF A HUSBAND AND WIFE DO SEXUAL INTERCOURSE BUT DO NOT REACH TO CLIMAX IN THAT CASE GHUSL IS REQUIRED? Jazak Allahu Khayran

bismi-llahi r-raḥmani r-raḥīm,

Assalamu ‘laikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh,

All praise and thanks are due to Allah (سبحانه و تعالى), and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger (صلى الله عليه و سلم).

Dear questioner,

First of all, we implore Allah (سبحانه و تعالى) to help us serve His cause and render our work for His sake.

Shorter Answer: Ghusl for Janaabah is obligatory for both the husband and wife when there is penetration, even without ejaculation. The Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم) said: “When a man sits in between the four parts of a woman and has sexual intercourse with her (by penetration), ghusl becomes obligatory.” (Al-Bukhari) Also, ‘Aa’ishah (رضي الله عنها) narrated that the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم) said: “When a man sits in between the four parts of a woman and the two circumcised parts touch each other, ghusl becomes obligatory.” (Muslim)

Long Answer: The things that make ghusl obligatory are six things. If one of them happens then the Muslim has to do ghusl:

  1. Emission of maniy (semen) from its exit in the male or female, which happens either when one is awake or when one is asleep. If it is emitted when one is awake, there is the condition that one feels pleasure when it is emitted. If it is emitted without pleasure, then ghusl is not required, such as if it is emitted as the result of sickness. If it is emitted when one is asleep, this is what is called ihtilaam (erotic dream) and ghusl is required in all cases because he was not aware (of whether there were feelings of pleasure or not) and he may not experience feelings of pleasure. If a sleeper wakes up and finds traces of maniy, then he must do ghusl. If he has an erotic dream but no maniy comes out of him, and he does not find any trace of it, then he does not have to do ghusl.
  2. Penetration of the penis into the vagina, even if no ejaculation takes place, because of the hadith narrated by Muslim and others from the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم): “When a man sits between the four parts (arms and legs of his wife) and has intercourse with her, then ghusl is obligatory.” (Al-Bukhari) [Also, ‘Aa’ishah (رضي الله عنها) narrated that the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم) said: “When a man sits in between the four parts of a woman and the two circumcised parts touch each other, ghusl becomes obligatory.” (Muslim)] So, ghusl is required of both parties involved by mere virtue of penetration having taken place, even if no ejaculation takes place, because of this hadith and because there is scholarly consensus on this point.
  3. According to some scholars, ghusl is required when a kaafir becomes Muslim, because the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم) told some of those who became Muslim to do ghusl. Many scholars think that it is mustahabb, not obligatory, for a kaafir who becomes Muslim to do ghusl because it is not narrated that the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم) told everyone who became Muslim to do that. So, it may be understood that it is mustahabb, so as to reconcile the evidence.
  4. Death – the deceased person must be washed, except for the shaheed (martyr) who falls in battle, who is not to be washed.
  5. & 6. Menses and nifaas (post-partum bleeding), because the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم) said: “When your menses ends, then do ghusl and pray.” And Allah (سبحانه و تعالى) says in the Qur’an: “And when they have purified themselves” (Soorah al-Baqarah, 2:222), referring to menses – they should purify themselves by doing ghusl after their menses ends. (al-Mulakhkhas al-Fiqhi by Shaykh Saalih al-Fawzaan)

(Most part of the above reply is based on answer provided by Shaykh Muhammad Saalih al-Munajjid on the topic)

Allahu A’lam (Allah (سبحانه و تعالى) knows best) and all Perfections belong to Allah, and all mistakes belong to me alone. May Allah (سبحانه و تعالى) forgive me, Ameen.

Wassalaam