Do Orgasms Caused by a Medical Condition, Such as PGAD, Necessitate a Ritual Bath (Ghusl)?


Hanafi Fiqh

Answered by Mawlana Ilyas Patel

Question

I believe I have persistent genital arousal disorder (PGAD). My symptoms have recently worsened.

I went to the bathroom, got into bed, and after about five minutes, I had several orgasms (without vaginal contractions) that I had not planned on having (I did not think of any sexual thoughts). I took a shower (ghusl) the next morning, and about ten minutes later, I had another orgasm (without vaginal contractions).

Do orgasms without vaginal contractions necessitate ghusl? Do unintentional orgasms necessitate ghusl (i.e., there are no sexual thoughts, etc.)? Is a ghusl required every time an orgasm occurs if the orgasm is caused by a medical condition (such as PGAD)?

Answer

In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate.

I pray you are in good faith and health.

A ritual bath (ghusl) will only become necessary if an orgasm follows sexual fluid. If there is no fluid, a mere feeling of sexual arousal will not necessitate a ritual bath.

Obligatory (fard) is when the emission of sperm/sexual fluid (mani) leaves its normal place inside the body with or without pleasure, for any reason, such as a wet dream or by looking at someone or something. [’Ala’uddin ‘Ibn ’Abidin, al-Hadiyya al-’Ala’iyya; Tahtawi, Hashiya al-Tahtawi ’ala Maraqi al-Falah]

I want to advise you to seek medical care, also fast often, maybe Mondays and Thursdays, also recite the following verse frequently:

“قُلْنَا يَٰنَارُ كُونِى بَرْدًا وَسَلَٰمًا”

“We ordered, ‘O fire! Be cool and safe (…).’” [Quran, 21:69]

Related:
Persistent Genital Arousal Disorder (PGAD)
Does a Female Orgasm Experienced Without Intercourse Necessitate a Ritual Bath?
Wet Dreams and Ritual Purity: A Reader

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May Allah (Most High) give you ease and relief from the illness.

I pray this helps with your question.
Wassalam,
[Mawlana] Ilyas Patel
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Mawlana Ilyas Patel is a traditionally-trained scholar who has studied in the UK, India, Pakistan, Syria, Jordan, and Turkey. He started his early education in the UK. He went on to complete the hifz of the Quran in India, then enrolled in an Islamic seminary in the UK, where he studied the secular and ‘Aalimiyya sciences. He then traveled to Karachi, Pakistan. He has been an Imam in Rep of Ireland for several years. He has taught hifz of the Quran, Tajwid, Fiqh, and many other Islamic sciences to children and adults onsite and online extensively in the UK and Ireland. He taught at a local Islamic seminary for 12 years in the UK, where he was a librarian and a teacher of Islamic sciences. He currently resides in the UK with his wife. His interest is a love of books and gardening.

Arabic References:

و فرض بعد خروج منی منفصل عن مقرہ بشھوۃ وان لم یخرج بھا من غیر جماع.” [الھدیة العلائية]”

…وكذا المرأة مثل الرجل على المذهب”

(قَوْلُهُ: وَكَذَا الْمَرْأَةُ إلَخْ) فِي الْبَحْرِ عَنْ الْمِعْرَاجِ: لَوْ احْتَلَمَتْ الْمَرْأَةُ وَلَمْ يَخْرُجْ الْمَاءُ إلَى ظَهْرِ فَرْجِهَا عَنْ مُحَمَّدٍ يَجِبُ. وَفِي ظَاهِرِ الرِّوَايَةِ لَا يَجِبُ؛ لِأَنَّ خُرُوجَ مَنِيِّهَا إلَى فَرْجِهَا الْخَارِجِ شَرْطٌ لِوُجُوبِ الْغُسْلِ عَلَيْهَا وَعَلَيْهِ الْفَتْوَى.” [حاشية ابن عابدين رد المحتار ط الحلبي – سنن الغسل]