He was also asked: (*)

Is semen pure or not? If it is pure, what is the ruling on a woman’s vaginal moisture when it mixes with it?

He replied:

As for semen, the correct view is that it is pure. This is the position of al-Shāfi‘ī and the well-known view reported from Ahmad.

It has also been said that it is impure, but rubbing it off suffices. This is the position of Abū Hanīfa and another view reported from Ahmad. Is a small amount of it excused, as with blood, or not excused, as with urine? There are two views, both reported from Ahmad.

It has also been said that it must be washed off, as Mālik held. The first view, however, is correct. It is well known that the Companions experienced nocturnal emissions during the Prophet’s lifetime, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, and that semen would get onto their bodies and clothes. This was a widespread occurrence. Had it been impure, the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, would have been obliged to instruct them to remove it from their bodies and clothes, just as he instructed them to cleanse themselves after relieving themselves and instructed menstruating women to wash menstrual blood from their clothes. Indeed, people come into contact with semen far more often than