❖ 4 Evidences for Washing the Penis and Testicles Upon Discharge of Madhi ❖
Source: Fatāwā al-Dīn al-Khāliṣ, Volume 1, Page 357
❖ Question
In case of Madhi (pre-seminal fluid) discharge, is it sufficient to wash only the private part (penis), or is it also obligatory to wash the testicles?
❖ Answer
All praise is due to Allah, and blessings and peace be upon the Messenger of Allah. To proceed:
Authentic Hadiths and Athār (Companion reports) clearly establish that upon the discharge of Madhi, it is obligatory to wash both the penis and the testicles.
✿ ➊ Ḥadīth of al-Miqdād رضي الله عنه
Al-Miqdād رضي الله عنه narrated:
“The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: He should wash his penis and his testicles.”
(Sunan Abī Dāwūd: 1/43)
✔ This authentic narration directly commands the washing of both parts, leaving no room for ambiguity.
✿ ➋ Ḥadīth of ʿAbdullāh ibn Saʿd al-Anṣārī رضي الله عنه
ʿAbdullāh ibn Saʿd رضي الله عنه asked the Prophet ﷺ:
“When is Ghusl obligatory? What should a man do if Madhi is discharged?”
The Prophet ﷺ replied:
“This is Madhi. Every man experiences it. He should wash his private part and his testicles, then perform ablution as he does for prayer.”
(Ṣaḥīḥ Sunan Abī Dāwūd: 1/42)
✔ This hadith provides explicit evidence of the obligation of washing both the penis and the testicles.
✿ ➌ Report from ʿUmar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb رضي الله عنه
Sulaymān ibn Rabīʿah al-Bāhilī said:
“I married a woman from Banū ʿUqayl. When I engaged in foreplay with her, Madhi would be discharged. I consulted ʿUmar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb رضي الله عنه, who said:
‘When you see the fluid discharged, wash your private part and your testicles, and perform ablution as you do for prayer.’”
(Sharḥ Maʿānī al-Āthār by al-Ṭaḥāwī: 1/39, Muṣannaf ʿAbd al-Razzāq: 1/157)
✔ This ruling of ʿUmar رضي الله عنه agrees with the Prophetic instruction, reinforcing its binding nature.
✿ ➍ Report from ʿAlī ibn Abī Ṭālib رضي الله عنه
✔ A similar statement is reported from ʿAlī رضي الله عنه, which further strengthens the ruling and confirms its widespread practice among the Companions.
✿ Shar‘i Emphasis and Rebuttal of Misinterpretations
✔ Authentic narrations make it clear that washing the penis alone is not sufficient.
✔ Washing the testicles is also obligatory when Madhi is discharged.
Rebuttal:
Some claim the purpose of washing the testicles was to stop the flow of Madhi, hence not part of the religious command.
Response:
This is an invalid reasoning. The wisdom behind a command does not override the command itself. Rejecting a clear directive of the Prophet ﷺ because of inferred reasoning is not acceptable.
✔ If one were to dismiss this as specific to the time of the Companions, it would be tantamount to rejecting a Sahih Hadith simply because their Imam did not issue that ruling.
But the greatest Imam is Muḥammad Rasul Allāh ﷺ himself.
✿ Ruling on Stone Cleansing (Istinjā’ with Pebbles) in the Case of Madhi
A related question:
Is it permissible to cleanse Madhi using only pebbles (i.e., dry Istinjā’), or is water required?
✔ Answer:
Only water is sufficient. Dry cleaning using pebbles alone is not valid for Madhi.
The Prophet ﷺ gave a clear command to wash both the penis and testicles, and this excludes any form of dry purification for such cases.
✅ Conclusion
✔ Based on authentic Hadiths and the practice of the Companions:
When Madhi is discharged, it is:
❀ Obligatory to wash the penis and the testicles
❀ Istinjā’ with pebbles alone is insufficient
❀ Water must be used in accordance with the command of the Prophet ﷺ
Hādha mā ʿindī, wallāhu aʿlam bis-ṣawāb.
