cite examples merely to illustrate the case, without regard to whether it is harmful or not. Moreover, in a case such as this, the semen will generally emerge once he releases his penis.

Some scholars said that the mere movement of semen does not necessitate ghusl (1). This was the view preferred by Shaykh al-Islam (2), and it is the correct view. The evidence for this is as follows:

1. The hadith of Umm Salamah states: “Yes, if she sees the fluid” (3). He did not say, “or if she feels it moving.” Had ghusl been obligatory because of its movement, the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, would have made this clear, since there was a need for such clarification.

2. The hadith of Abu Sa‘id al-Khudri: “Water is required because of water” (4). In this case, however, there is no fluid, and the hadith indicates that where there is no fluid, there is no ghusl.

3. The basic presumption is that ritual purity remains and that no cause requiring ghusl exists. This presumption should not be set aside except on the basis of evidence.

“And if it emerges afterward, he need not repeat it, ……”

His statement, “And if it emerges afterward, he need not repeat it,” means that if he performed ghusl because of the semen that had moved, and it then emerged with movement, he does not repeat the ghusl. The evidence is:

1. The cause is one, and therefore it does not require two ghusls.

2. When it emerges afterward, it emerges without pleasure, whereas ghusl is obligatory only when it emerges with pleasure.

However, if newly produced semen emerges due to a fresh arousal of desire, then ghusl becomes obligatory upon him due to this second cause.