❖ Scholarly Disagreement on the Purity or Impurity of Semen (Mani) ❖
Source: Fatāwā ʿIlmiyyah, Vol. 1, Kitāb al-ʿAqāʾid, p. 210
Is semen (mani) considered pure or impure in Islam? Some people accuse Ahl al-Ḥadīth scholars of claiming that mani is pure. What is the correct understanding in light of Islamic scholarship?
Alḥamdulillāh, and peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah. To proceed:
The issue of whether mani is ṭāhir (pure) or najis (impure) has been disputed since early Islamic times.
As stated by Muḥammad Taqī ʿUthmānī (Deobandi):
“There has always been a difference of opinion about the purity of semen, dating back to the time of the Companions. Among them: Ibn ʿUmar, Ibn ʿAbbās, and among the Imams: Imām al-Shāfiʿī and Imām Aḥmad considered mani to be pure.”
(Dars al-Tirmidhī, Vol. 1, p. 346)
Some of the students of Imām Aḥmad and Imām al-Shāfiʿī supported this view.
According to Muḥammad Raʾīs Nadwī:
“In the Ḥanbalī madhhab, mani is absolutely ṭāhir, and this is the opinion of the majority of Ḥanbalī jurists.”
(al-Inṣāf fī Maʿrifat al-Rājiḥ min al-Khilāf, 1/340–341)
This was also the opinion of:
Imām al-Nawawī رحمه الله stated:
“Many scholars hold that mani is pure, including ʿAlī, Saʿd ibn Abī Waqqāṣ, Ibn ʿUmar, and ʿĀʾishah رضي الله عنهم.
Among the scholars: Imām Dāwūd al-Ẓāhirī, one narration from Imām Aḥmad, Imām al-Shāfiʿī, and many from the Ahl al-Ḥadīth.”
(Sharḥ Muslim, 1/140; al-Majmūʿ: Bāb al-Ṭahārah)
However, some scholars — after research and ijtihād — declared that mani is impure, including:
✔ Based on the evidences and collective scholarly assessment, the stronger view is that mani is impure (najis).
✔ Declaring it pure is not a new invention — it was held by Companions and Imams, both in the early and later generations.
⚠ Therefore, it is incorrect to label the view of purity as a unique stance of Ahl al-Ḥadīth or to accuse them of innovation in this matter.
This issue is one of longstanding scholarly disagreement and legitimate ijtihād. Just as other Imams have adopted differing views, Ahl al-Ḥadīth scholars too have exercised their judgment.
It is unjust and misleading to propagate false accusations against them.
وَاللّٰهُ أَعْلَمُ بِالصَّوَابِ
Source: Fatāwā ʿIlmiyyah, Vol. 1, Kitāb al-ʿAqāʾid, p. 210❖ Question
Is semen (mani) considered pure or impure in Islam? Some people accuse Ahl al-Ḥadīth scholars of claiming that mani is pure. What is the correct understanding in light of Islamic scholarship?
❖ Answer
Alḥamdulillāh, and peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah. To proceed:
➊ Historical Disagreement Among Scholars
The issue of whether mani is ṭāhir (pure) or najis (impure) has been disputed since early Islamic times.
As stated by Muḥammad Taqī ʿUthmānī (Deobandi):“There has always been a difference of opinion about the purity of semen, dating back to the time of the Companions. Among them: Ibn ʿUmar, Ibn ʿAbbās, and among the Imams: Imām al-Shāfiʿī and Imām Aḥmad considered mani to be pure.”
(Dars al-Tirmidhī, Vol. 1, p. 346)
Some of the students of Imām Aḥmad and Imām al-Shāfiʿī supported this view.
➋ Position of Ahl al-Ḥadīth Scholars
According to Muḥammad Raʾīs Nadwī:“In the Ḥanbalī madhhab, mani is absolutely ṭāhir, and this is the opinion of the majority of Ḥanbalī jurists.”
(al-Inṣāf fī Maʿrifat al-Rājiḥ min al-Khilāf, 1/340–341)
This was also the opinion of:
- Shaykh ʿAbd al-Qādir al-Jīlānī رحمه الله
(See: Ghuniyyat al-Ṭālibīn, p. 70)
Imām al-Nawawī رحمه الله stated:“Many scholars hold that mani is pure, including ʿAlī, Saʿd ibn Abī Waqqāṣ, Ibn ʿUmar, and ʿĀʾishah رضي الله عنهم.
Among the scholars: Imām Dāwūd al-Ẓāhirī, one narration from Imām Aḥmad, Imām al-Shāfiʿī, and many from the Ahl al-Ḥadīth.”
(Sharḥ Muslim, 1/140; al-Majmūʿ: Bāb al-Ṭahārah)
➌ Counter Position: Mani is Najis (Impure)
However, some scholars — after research and ijtihād — declared that mani is impure, including:
- Imām al-Shawkānī
(Nayl al-Awṭār, 1/67) - Nawwāb Ṣiddīq Ḥasan Khān
(Tuḥfat al-Aḥwadhī, 1/115) - Various Salafī scholars after careful analysis
➍ Preferred (Rājih) Position
✔ Based on the evidences and collective scholarly assessment, the stronger view is that mani is impure (najis).
✔ Declaring it pure is not a new invention — it was held by Companions and Imams, both in the early and later generations.
⚠ Therefore, it is incorrect to label the view of purity as a unique stance of Ahl al-Ḥadīth or to accuse them of innovation in this matter.
➎ Final Note
This issue is one of longstanding scholarly disagreement and legitimate ijtihād. Just as other Imams have adopted differing views, Ahl al-Ḥadīth scholars too have exercised their judgment.
It is unjust and misleading to propagate false accusations against them.وَاللّٰهُ أَعْلَمُ بِالصَّوَابِ
