Question
Hi, I read the article on ghusl1, and when it was necessary after sex or ejaculation. I’d like to ask though, how do you define an orgasm? It sounds like you’re saying, that ghusl is necessary after being aroused even when no semen is emitted. You’re also saying that if semen is not emitted after ejaculation then no ghusl is necessary. Please explain. I am confused.
What I’d like to ask also, is that supposing semen has leaked out, and it has done so and the worst possible time within the 24h. Meaning, there isn’t the convenient availability of showering facilities all the time, and when I plan especially to keep my ghusl for some following prayers within the following day. In other words, showering as frequently as it’s broken is not an option, for whatever reason. IS there any quick fix way to go about this? I find this is a problem with a libido as active as mine, and especially during Ramadhan where we’re required to be forever ready for Taraweeh for instance.
Please help.
Answer
‘Orgasm’ has been explained by the Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary as: ‘Climax of sexual excitement’. That is precisely what I have implied from the word in my referred response.
You write:
It sounds like you’re saying, that ghusl [i.e. the obligatory ritual bath] is necessary after being aroused even when no semen is emitted.
I am extremely sorry if any of my words give the impression that you have pointed out. If that is truly the case, I would like to clarify that it was not what I had intended to convey in my response. The obligatory ritual bath is only essential after a physical sexual intercourse (with or without the discharge of semen or with or without sexual climax) or after a sexual climax – orgasm – even without a physical sexual intercourse.
Regarding your subsequent questions, the following points may be of some help:
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It is not just the emission of semen, which necessitates a bath; it is actually the orgasmic emission or discharge (with sexual climaxing) of semen, after which it is necessary to take a bath. Any emission or discharge of semen without sexual climaxing does not necessitate a bath. In such a situation, the person may offer his prayer after washing the discharge and performing ablution (wudhu).
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In case of non-availability of bathing water (or bathing facility) or in case of illness and journey, the Qur’an has allowed to offer prayer after Tayammum2 and defer ablution or bathing (as the situation may require) till the time of the availability of water (or the bathing facility) or till the time of the cure from the ailment or the return from the journey.
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In case of a [physical] sexual intercourse or an orgasmic discharge of semen, it is essential to take a bath. The Shari`ah allows no short cut to it. However, as has been mentioned earlier, in the non-availability of water (or bathing facilities) or in the case of such an ailment in which the use of water may be harmful, or while in a state of journey, the Shari`ah has allowed to perform Tayammum, in place of ablution (wudhu) as well as bath (ghusl).
I hope this helps.
19th January 2000