What Should a Woman Do If She Experiences Nocturnal Emission Like a Man?

This content is extracted from the book 500 Questions and Answers for Women, based on the fatwas of the scholars of Haramain, translated by Hafiz Abdullah Saleem.

Question:​

Does a woman experience nocturnal emission? If she does, what is obligatory upon her? And if she experiences it but does not perform the ritual bath (Ghusl), what is required of her?

Answer:​

Undoubtedly, women can also experience nocturnal emission, as women are similar to men in this regard. If a man or a woman experiences nocturnal emission and, upon waking, finds traces of seminal fluid on their clothes, it becomes obligatory to perform Ghusl (ritual bath).

This ruling is based on the question posed by Umm Sulaym (رضي الله عنها) to the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ):
"O Messenger of Allah, if a woman experiences nocturnal emission, is she required to perform Ghusl?"
The Prophet (ﷺ) replied:
"Yes, if she sees the water (i.e., seminal fluid)."
(Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith No. 130; Sahih Muslim, Hadith No. 313)

Thus, if a woman finds traces of seminal fluid on her clothes after experiencing nocturnal emission, it becomes obligatory for her to perform Ghusl.

However, if she suspects she had a wet dream but finds no traces of seminal fluid on her clothes, then Ghusl is not obligatory. If she later notices seminal fluid unexpectedly, she should investigate how many prayers she may have missed and make up for those prayers.

(Source: Muhammad ibn Salih al-Uthaymeen رحمه الله)