Chapter: On Madhi and Related Discharges
Madhi is the fluid that exits from the penis when sexual desire is aroused. It comes out without spurting and without the accompanying pleasure, leaves no post-ejaculatory fatigue, and a person may not even feel it depart. The same occurs with women. Physicians state that it issues through the urethra along with secretions from the peri-urethral glands during foreplay.
Our purpose here is to clarify its rulings with respect to ritual impurity and the nullification of wudu. Several hadiths in this section deal with what breaks wudu and with the removal of impurities.
The Hadith
From ʿAli ibn Abi Talib (d. 40 AH):
“I was a man who emitted a great deal of madhi, yet I felt too shy to ask the Messenger of Allah ﷺ about it because of his daughter’s position with me. So I instructed al-Miqdad ibn al-Aswad to question him. He did so, and the Prophet replied, ‘He should wash his penis and perform wudu.’ (1)”
In al-Bukhari’s wording: “Wash your penis and perform wudu.”
In Muslim’s wording (2): “Perform wudu and sprinkle water over your private area.”
Unfamiliar Expressions
- “madhhāʾ” (pattern faʿʿāl): a hyperbolic form meaning “one who frequently emits madhi.”
- “anḍaḥ farjaka” – the verb anḍaḥ usually means to sprinkle; it can also mean to wash, which is what is intended here so that the report accords with the other narration that explicitly mentions washing.
- “yaghsilu” is narrated in the indicative mood (with a ḍamma on the lām) although its import is imperative.
- “istahyaytu” appears with two yā’s in classical usage; it may come with one yā as in the Qur’anic reading, “Indeed, Allah is not shy to present an example …” (Baqara 2:26).
Overall Meaning
ʿAli (d. 40 AH) says: I was a man who discharged madhi abundantly. I used to perform a complete ghusl because I assumed its ruling was the same as that of semen, and the frequent bathing became burdensome. Wishing to verify its ruling, I intended to inquire of the Prophet ﷺ. Since the matter pertains to private parts and his daughter was married to me, I was embarrassed to ask him directly. Therefore, I asked al-Miqdad to put the question to him, and he did so.