On Ablution after Touching the Penis

Another matter related to touching, and falling within its meaning, is touching the penis. Reports from the Prophet ﷺ differ concerning whether this requires ablution. A number of Companions narrated his instruction to perform ablution after touching the penis, including Abū Hurayrah, Sa‘d ibn Abī Waqqās, Zayd ibn Khālid al-Juhanī, Abū Ayyūb al-Ansārī, Ibn ‘Umar, Jābir, Busrah and Umm Habībah. These reports have various wordings but convey the same meaning. Among them are:

“Whoever touches his penis should perform ablution.”

“Whoever touches his private parts should perform ablution.”

“Whoever touches his private parts must not pray until he has performed ablution as he would for prayer.”

“Whoever touches his private parts with his hand, with no barrier between them, must perform ablution.”

“Ablution is required after touching the penis.”

“Woe to those who touch their private parts and then pray without performing ablution.”

“Qays ibn Talq narrated from his father, Talq ibn ‘Alī, that he said: ‘We came to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. A man who appeared to be a Bedouin approached him and asked, “O Messenger of Allah, what do you say about a man touching his penis after performing ablution?” He replied, “Is it anything but a part of you?”’”

Section

The scholars differed over the interpretation and analysis of these hadiths, and over which should be acted upon. One group held that touching the penis requires ablution in all cases, with