Source: Ahkam wa Masail, Chapter on Ghusl, Vol. 1, p. 94
Does mere iltiqāʾ al-khātanayn (the meeting of the circumcised parts) make ghusl obligatory, or is actual penetration a condition? Please clarify, as Hafiz Ibn ʿAbd al-Barr رحمه الله in Al-Istidhkār used the wording “tajāwuz” (to go beyond), and Imam al-Nawawi رحمه الله in Sharh Muslim mentioned a similar meaning — indicating that without penetration, mere iltiqāʾ al-khātanayn does not make ghusl obligatory.
Alḥamdulillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu was-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, ʿammā baʿd:
Hafiz Ibn Hajar رحمه الله clarified this issue in Fatḥ al-Bārī, mentioning the narrations on iltiqāʾ al-khātanayn (meeting of the circumcised parts) and mas al-khātatayn (touching of the circumcised parts), and stated:
وَالْمُرَادُ بالْمَسِّ وَالْاِلْتِقَائِ الْمُحَاذَاۃُ ، وَیَدُلُّ عَلَیْہِ رِوَایَة التِرْمَذِي بِلَفْظ : إِذَا جَاوَزَ ۔ وَلَیْسَ الْمُرَادُ بِالْمَسِّ حَقِیْقَتہٗ لِاَنَّہ لاَ یُتَصَوَّرُ عِنْدَ غَیْبَة الْحَشْفَة ، وَلَوْ حَصَلَ الْمَسُّ قَبْلَ الْإِیْلاَجِ لَمْ یَجِبِ الْغُسلُ بِالْإِجْمَاعِ
(Fatḥ al-Bārī
Conclusion:
ھٰذا ما عندي، والله أعلم بالصواب
Question:
Does mere iltiqāʾ al-khātanayn (the meeting of the circumcised parts) make ghusl obligatory, or is actual penetration a condition? Please clarify, as Hafiz Ibn ʿAbd al-Barr رحمه الله in Al-Istidhkār used the wording “tajāwuz” (to go beyond), and Imam al-Nawawi رحمه الله in Sharh Muslim mentioned a similar meaning — indicating that without penetration, mere iltiqāʾ al-khātanayn does not make ghusl obligatory.
Answer:
Alḥamdulillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu was-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, ʿammā baʿd:
Hafiz Ibn Hajar رحمه الله clarified this issue in Fatḥ al-Bārī, mentioning the narrations on iltiqāʾ al-khātanayn (meeting of the circumcised parts) and mas al-khātatayn (touching of the circumcised parts), and stated:
وَالْمُرَادُ بالْمَسِّ وَالْاِلْتِقَائِ الْمُحَاذَاۃُ ، وَیَدُلُّ عَلَیْہِ رِوَایَة التِرْمَذِي بِلَفْظ : إِذَا جَاوَزَ ۔ وَلَیْسَ الْمُرَادُ بِالْمَسِّ حَقِیْقَتہٗ لِاَنَّہ لاَ یُتَصَوَّرُ عِنْدَ غَیْبَة الْحَشْفَة ، وَلَوْ حَصَلَ الْمَسُّ قَبْلَ الْإِیْلاَجِ لَمْ یَجِبِ الْغُسلُ بِالْإِجْمَاعِ
(Fatḥ al-Bārī
Explanation:
- The term iltiqāʾ (meeting) and mas (touch) here refers to physical proximity/alignment of the organs.
- This is supported by the narration in Tirmidhi with the wording “idhā jāwaz” — “when it goes beyond,” i.e., when penetration occurs.
- “Touch” here is not meant in the literal linguistic sense, but refers to the act of intercourse, since without the disappearance of the glans (ḥashafah), true penetration is not realized.
- If there is only touching before penetration, ghusl is not obligatory by the consensus (ijmāʿ) of scholars.
Conclusion:
- Ghusl becomes obligatory only when penetration occurs, meaning the glans enters, even if ejaculation does not take place.
- Mere touching or external contact without penetration does not require ghusl.
ھٰذا ما عندي، والله أعلم بالصواب
