Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah

Hazrat Rifa’ah bin Rafi’ says that once we were present with Hazrat Umar when a man came there. Someone said, “O Commander of the Faithful! This is Zaid bin Thabit who gives fatwas to people about the ritual bath of janabah according to his own opinion.” Hazrat Umar said, “Bring him to me.” When he came, Hazrat Umar said to him, “O enemy of your own soul! I have heard that you give fatwas to people according to your own opinion?” He replied, “O Commander of the Faithful! By Allah, I have not done so, rather I have heard some ahadith from these respected gentlemen and conveyed them further: Hazrat Abu Ayyub, Hazrat Ubayy bin Ka’b, and Hazrat Rifa’ah bin Rafi’.” Then Hazrat Umar turned to Hazrat Rifa’ah bin Rafi’ and said to him, “Did you use to do this, that none among you would refrain from performing ghusl after intercourse with a woman without ejaculation?” He said, “We used to do this in the time of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), but there was no prohibition from Allah Almighty or from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) regarding this.” Hazrat Umar asked, “Did the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) know about this?” Hazrat Rifa’ah replied, “I do not know.” Then Hazrat Umar gathered the Ansar and Muhajirin and consulted them about this matter. Everyone advised that there is no ghusl in this case. But Hazrat Mu’adh and Hazrat Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) said, “When the private parts meet, ghusl becomes obligatory.” Hazrat Umar said, “You are the people of Badr and you differ, so those who come after you will differ even more!” Hazrat Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) said, “O Commander of the Faithful! In my opinion, no one can have more knowledge about this matter than the pure wives (of the Prophet).” Hazrat Hafsah was asked about this, and she expressed ignorance. When Hazrat Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) was asked, she said, “When the private parts meet, ghusl becomes obligatory.” Upon this, Hazrat Umar said, “If I hear of any man who refrains from ghusl even after the meeting of the private parts, I will give him a painful punishment.”