Question:
Assalamualaikum w.b.t. I have a question. A person dreamt that he had intercourse. When he woke up, he didn’t find any semen or signs that he ejaculated. Is it necessary for him to perform the obligatory bath? Hope for an explanation.
Answer:
Waalaikumussalam wrt. wbt.,
Alhamdulillah, praise and gratitude to Allah SWT for His countless blessings for us all. Praise and salutations to our beloved Prophet Muhammad PBUH, his family, companions, and all those who follow his footsteps until the Final day.
Mukadimah
Bath is sanctioned by Allah SWT whether it is for cleanliness purposes or to purify oneself from hadas and whether it is a valid condition of worship or otherwise. Allah SWT states:
إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُحِبُّ التَّوَّابِينَ وَيُحِبُّ الْمُتَطَهِّرِينَ
“Indeed, Allah loves those who are constantly repentant and loves those who purify themselves.” [1]
This means that Allah SWT loves those who are clean and free from hadas and filth, regardless of whether it is physical or spiritual filth. [2] While al-Syaukani stated that the meaning of the above verse is that Allah SWT loves those who repent from their sins and purify from junub and hadas. [3]
Obligatory bath
The obligatory bath is a bath of which other worships are invalid without it when there are reasons which obligate the bath. Among the reasons that obligate a person to perform the bath is if he/she ejaculates, due to any reason, whether it is caused by a dream, kiss, looking at someone with desire or having sexual thoughts. [4]
This is based on a hadith from Ummu Salamah R.Anha, she said:
جَاءَتْ أُمُّ سُلَيْمٍ إِلَى رسول الله صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَقَالَتْ: يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لاَ يَسْتَحْيِى مِنَ الْحَقِّ فَهَلْ عَلَى الْمَرْأَةِ مِنْ غُسْلٍ إِذَا احْتَلَمَتْ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: نَعَمْ إِذَا رَأَتِ الْمَاءَ
“Apostle of Allah, Allah is not ashamed of the truth. Is bathing necessary for a woman when she has a sexual dream? Upon this the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: Yes, when she sees the liquid (vaginal secretion).” [5]
Thus, the above hadith shows the muqayyad (condition it is bound with) of obligatory bath with the secretion of semen. This means, if semen isn’t ejaculated, then the obligatory bath isn’t necessary.
This opinion is strengthened with another hadith from Aisyah R.Anha, she said:
سُئِلَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ عَنِ الرَّجُلِ يَجِدُ الْبَلَلَ وَلاَ يَذْكُرُ احْتِلاَمًا قَالَ : يَغْتَسِلُ. وَعَنِ الرَّجُلِ يَرَى أَنَّهُ قَدِ احْتَلَمَ وَلاَ يَجِدُ الْبَلَلَ قَالَ: لاَ غُسْلَ عَلَيْهِ. فَقَالَتْ أُمُّ سُلَيْمٍ: الْمَرْأَةُ تَرَى ذَلِكَ أَعَلَيْهَا غُسْلٌ قَالَ: نَعَمْ ، النِّسَاءُ شَقَائِقُ الرِّجَالِ
“The Prophet (ﷺ) was asked about a person who found moisture (on his body or clothes) but did not remember the sexual dream. He replied: He should take a bath. He was asked about a person who remembered that he had a sexual dream but did not find moisture. He replied: Bath is not necessary for him. Umm Salamah then asked: Is washing necessary for a woman if she sees that (in her dream)? He replied: Yes. Woman are counterpart of men.” [7]
The meaning of “women are the counterpart of man” is in terms of its creation and nature of woman which is similar in some ways with men. It is as though they are a part of men. [8]
Conclusion
Hence, according to the above discussion, whoever had a sexual dream but didn’t ejaculate, then it is not necessary for him/her to take the obligatory bath according to the above-stated hadith.
May Allah SWT grants us a clear understanding in religion. Amin.
Wallahu a’lam.
[2] See al-Fiqh al-Manhaji, 1/71.
[3] See Zubdah al-Tafasir min Fath al-Qadir by al-Asyqar, pg. 44.
[4] See al-Fiqh al-Manhaji, 1/73-74.
[5] Narrated by al-Bukhari (278) and Muslim (313)
[7] Narrated by Abu Daud (236)
[8] See al-Fiqh al-Manhaji, 1/74.
