Hadith Reference:
Muslim narrated from Muḥammad bin al-Ḥanafiyyah, who narrated from ʿAlī (رضي الله عنه):"I felt too shy to ask the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) about madhī (pre-seminal fluid) due to my relationship with Fāṭimah (رضي الله عنها), so I instructed al-Miqdād to ask on my behalf. The Prophet (ﷺ) responded: ‘Perform wudu because of it.’”
[Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 132, 178 | Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 303]
Another narration in Muslim from ʿAbdullāh bin ʿAbbās, reported from ʿAlī (رضي الله عنه) states:
"Perform wudu and sprinkle water over your private area."
[Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 303, narrated via Sulaymān bin Yasār]
Key Lessons Derived from the Hadith:
➊ Madhī (pre-seminal fluid) requires wudu—one must perform ablution after its discharge before offering prayer.Additionally, sprinkling water over the undergarments or garments is encouraged, as sometimes a sticky fluid or urinary droplets may unintentionally be discharged.
➋ Madhī is a natural occurrence—it is a thin, sticky fluid that exits before ejaculation and is a sign of arousal. It is thinner than semen and is not considered impure like urine.
➌ There is no shame in seeking knowledge about religious matters.
If a person feels too shy to ask directly, they can seek answers through someone else.
This is illustrated by ʿAlī (رضي الله عنه), who refrained from asking directly because of his relationship with Fāṭimah (رضي الله عنها) and instead requested al-Miqdād to ask the Prophet (ﷺ).
[This content has been taken from the book Ḍiyāʾ al-Islām fī Sharḥ al-Imām bi-Aḥādīth al-Aḥkām by Shaykh Taqī al-Dīn Abī al-Fatḥ, translated by Mawlānā Maḥmūd Aḥmad Ghaḍanfar.]
