is a cause requiring ghusl, even if it occurs without sexual desire and whatever the reason for its emission, because of the general wording of the hadith. The majority of the scholars maintain that, for its emission to make ghusl obligatory, it must be discharged in a forceful gush accompanied by pleasure.

Some scholars said: “accompanied by pleasure,” omitting “in a forceful gush.” They held that whenever it is accompanied by pleasure, it must necessarily be discharged in a forceful gush.

Mentioning the forceful gush is more appropriate, as it accords with Allah’s saying:

“Let man then consider from what he was created. He was created from gushing fluid.” [al-Tariq]

Thus, if it is emitted without pleasure by one who is awake, it does not make ghusl obligatory, according to what the author has stated; and this is correct.

If it is asked, “How is the hadith, ‘Water is due because of water,’ to be understood?”

We say: It is to be understood as referring to the familiar, well-known fluid which is emitted with pleasure and causes the body to relax and become fatigued. As for that which is not accompanied by this, it does not cause bodily relaxation or fatigue. This is why they mentioned three signs of this fluid:

The first: that it is discharged in a forceful gush.

The second: its smell. When it has dried, its smell is like that of eggs; when it is not dry, its smell is like that of dough and date-palm pollen.