When Does a Lingering Smell Affect Purity After Intimacy?

Answered by Mawlana Ilyas Patel

Question

I’m a new Muslim. My wife used saliva as a lubricant during hand stimulation, mixing it with semen and precum.

I washed, but it still smells. Does the smell affect my purity, considering I touched many wet areas? Purity issues trouble me lately.

Answer

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

I trust you in good faith, in sha Allah. May Allah increase you in knowledge and actions.

Purity of the hands will be assumed, as you had washed your hands. The lingering smell and sensation will be excused.

However, as ejaculation took place, you will have to perform a ritual bath (ghusl), as it is necessary after the exit of semen. Read the links below.

Allah Most High says, “Verily Allah loves those who much repent, and loves those who keep pure.” [Quran 2:222; Keller, The Quran Beheld]

The Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “This religion is simple, and none goes to extremes in the religion except that it overwhelms them. So strive for uprightness and do your best…” [Bukhari]

What Necessitates the Ritual Bath (Ghusl)

Ghusl is only necessary after:

(1) Ejaculation

(2) Intercourse

(3) Menstruation

(4) Post-natal bleeding

[Turmurtashi, Tanwir al-Absar; Shurunbulali, Maraqi al-Falah; `Ala al-Din ibn `Abidin, Hadiyya]

Remember, Allah has not made it obligatory to investigate the details of purity. One is pure if they have washed and are reasonably sure no impurity remains, including front, back, and hands. Overly scrutinizing, as you mentioned, can lead to doubt and overthinking.

And Allah knows best.

[Mawlana] Ilyas Patel
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Related Answers

What Is the Proper Method of Performing the Ritual Bath (Ghusl)?
Explains the obligatory acts, sunnas, and correct procedure for performing a valid ghusl.

Are My Hands Pure, Although the Smell of Impurity Seems to Remain?
Clarifies whether lingering odor affects purity after an impurity has been properly removed.

When Can I Deem to Have Removed Filth from My Body?]
Outlines the criteria for determining that physical impurity has been sufficiently cleansed.

When Does Ghusl Become Obligatory as per Hanafi Fiqh?
Details the situations that require ghusl according to the Hanafi school.

What Is Pre-Ejaculatory Fluid (Madhy)?
Explains the nature of madhy and its rulings regarding purity, wudu, and ghusl.

Mawlana Ilyas Patel has received traditional education in various countries. He started his schooling in the UK and completed his hifz of the Quran in India. After that, he joined an Islamic seminary in the UK, where he studied secular and Aalimiyya sciences. Later, he traveled to Karachi, Pakistan, and other Middle Eastern countries to further his education. Mawlana has served as an Imam in the Republic of Ireland for several years and taught the Quran and other Islamic sciences to both children and adults. He also worked as a teacher and librarian at a local Islamic seminary in the UK for 12 years. Presently, he lives in the UK with his wife and is interested in books and gardening.