If I Do Not Find Any Wetness, Do I Need To Make a Ritual Bath (Ghusl)?

Question: If after waking up, one does not find any wetness nor recall a wet dream, however, after urinating, they find a discharge – must they make a ritual bath (ghusl)? How do I address my misgivings (waswasa) relating to matters of purity?

Answer:

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

You are not required to perform the ritual bath. The situation you described confirms that the discharge you found is not a sexual fluid.

 

Post-Urine Discharge

A common discharge that is found after urinating is called wadi – or post-urine discharge. It is defined as a thick, murky fluid that often exits the penis after urination, or could precede it. [Shurunbulali, Ascent to Felicity]

 

Being Cautious

Your suffering with misgivings is due to your caution to properly practice your faith. Its rooted is praiseworthy sincerity and a great sense of importance for Allah’s limits.

However, caution is defined as choosing to do that which is most pleasing to Allah Most High; caution is not choosing the more difficult option. For this reason, caution is only possible with knowledge.

 

Misgivings (Waswasa)

For the one who is constantly in doubt – abandoning caution is often the best cure.

“As for the one who is often inflicted with misgivings, it is necessary for them to sever the cause of the misgivings and not to give it any consideration. This is because it is the doing of Shaytan, and we have been commanded to oppose him.” [Ibn ‘Abidin, Radd al-Muhtar]

 

Knowledge

The long-term cure for these constant doubts is to seek a deeper understanding of Islamic Knowledge. With knowledge, Shaytan can not deceive you with his whispers and plots. I would advise that you find authentic scholars in your area and study with them a basic text in Islamic Jurisprudence.

Please note that SeekersGuidance.org has classes available in Islamic Jurisprudence and many other subjects.

Hope this helps
Allah knows best
[Shaykh] Yusuf Weltch

Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Shaykh Yusuf Weltch is a graduate from Tarim; a student of Habib Umar and other luminaries; and authorized teachers of the Qur’an and the Islamic sciences