Are My Past Prayers Valid Without Ghusl After Masturbation?
Hanafi Fiqh
Answered by Shaykh Yusuf Weltch
Question
I used to masturbate regularly, but stopped 10 months ago. I recently learned that ghusl is required if anything is discharged, but I don’t recall if that ever happened. I didn’t perform ghusl unless I had menstruation. I’m unsure how many prayers may have been invalid and have no way to estimate the number. What should I do?
Answer
In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate.
Unless you are reasonably sure that ejaculation occurred, you can assume that it did not, and therefore no ghusl is required. That said, you are not required to make up those prayers.
This is based on the Islamic principle “Certainty is not removed by doubt.” [Ibn Nujaym, al-Ashbah wa’l Naza’ir]
Repentance is, however, required as any self-fulfillment of sexual desires is sinful. [Maydani, al-Lubab fi Sharh al-Kitab]
Related
- Is Masturbation Forgiven If I Continue to Pray My Daily Prayers?
- How Can I Overcome Watching Porn and Masturbation?
- Must One Make Up Prayers Performed Without Ghusl After Masturbation?
Hope this helps
Allah knows best
[Shaykh] Yusuf Weltch
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
Shaykh Yusuf Weltch is a teacher of Arabic, Islamic law, and spirituality. After accepting Islam in 2008, he went on to study at Darul Uloom Seminary in New York and completed his studies at Darul Mustafa in Tarim, Yemen.
There, he completed the memorization of the Quran and his study of Islamic Sciences. Throughout his years of study, he was blessed to learn from many great scholars: Habib Umar bin Hafiz, Habib Kazhim al-Saqqaf, Shaykh ‘Umar bin Husayn al-Khatib, and others.
Upon returning, he joined the SeekersGuidance faculty in the summer of 2019.
