❖ 4 Evidences for Washing the Penis and Testicles Upon Discharge of Madhi ❖
Source: Fatāwā al-Dīn al-Khāliṣ, Volume 1, Page 357
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?
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.
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.
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.
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.
✔ A similar statement is reported from ʿAlī رضي الله عنه, which further strengthens the ruling and confirms its widespread practice among the Companions.
✔ 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.
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.
✔ 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.
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.
