31st October 2023
السلام عليكم و رحمة الله و بركاته
Question: What type of discharge breaks Wudhu? What if it is not flowing discharge but its ever so slightly wet and the tiniest bit?
الجواب حامداً و مصلياً
In the name of Allāh, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Answer
In reference to your query discharge is categorised into three main types:
- Manī – The discharge that exits upon sexual climax. This necessitates Ghusl.
- Madhī – The fluid that exits the body at the time of sexual arousal and sexual foreplay. This necessitates Wudhu only.
- Wadī – The general fluid that exits the private area after urination.[1]With regards to women, this divides into three subcategories:
- The moisture that exits from the external vulva (Al Farj al Kharij). This is considered pure and does not break the Wudhu. This moisture is clear or white in colour. It is the sweating of the vagina.
- The moisture that exits from the inner vulva (Al Farj ad dakhil). If this is also clear/white and exits without ailment, it is considered pure as mentioned by Imam Nawawi.[2]
- The discharge which exits from beyond the vagina (uterus etc). This is impure and necessitates Wudhu.[3]
It should be noted that it is difficult to determine exactly which region the vaginal discharge exited from and due to vaginal discharge often oxidising and changing colour, it is also extremely difficult to differentiate between it being the natural sweat of the vagina and it exiting due to an ailment. Therefore, women should renew their Wudhu upon seeing vaginal discharge and if she deals with chronic vaginal discharge, then she must renew her wudhu at the time of every Fardh Salah.[4]
Regarding your question about flowing discharge, it is not necessary that the discharge be flowing. Any amount of vaginal discharge exiting the passage is enough to necessitate Wudhu.
[Allāh Knows Best]
Written by: Apa Samreena Kashif Reviewed by: Mufti Abdul Waheed
Attested by: Shaykh Mufti Saiful Islam
JKN Fatawa Department
[1] Samarqandi, Tuhfatul Fuqaha, Kitab at-Taharah, Bab al-Hadath, Vol.1, pg.27
ثمَّ الْمَنِيّ هُوَ المَاء الْأَبْيَض الغليظ الَّذِي ينكسر بِهِ الذّكر وتنقطع بِهِ الشَّهْوَة والمذي هُوَ المَاء الْأَبْيَض الرَّقِيق الَّذِي يخرج عِنْد الملاعبة
والودي هُوَ المَاء الْأَبْيَض الَّذِي يخرج بعد الْبَوْل
[2] Durrul Mukhtār wa hashiyah Ibn Ābideen Shāmi, Kitab at-Taharah, Bab al-Anjaas, Vol.1, pg. 682
اى: برطوبة الفرج امّا عتده فهى طاهرة كسائر رطوبات البدن
(قوله: برطوبة الفرج) أي: الداخل بدليل قوله : أولج، و امّا رطوبة الفرج الخارج فطاهرة اتفاقا.اه . ح. و في منهاج الإمام النووي: رطوبة الفرج ليست بنجسة في الأصح ، قال ابن حجر في شرحه : و هى ماءٌ أبيض متردد بين المذي والعرق، يخرج من باطن الفرج الذي لا يجب غسله، بخلاف ما يخرج مما يجب غسله فإنه طاهر قطعا، و من وراء باطن الفرج فإنه نجس قطعا ككلّ خارج من الباطن كالماء الخارج مع الولد أو قبيله
[3] Kasani, Badai Sinai, Kitab at-Taharah, Vol.1, pg. 26
وَرُوِيَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدٍ فِي رَجُلٍ أَقْلَفَ خَرَجَ الْبَوْلُ أَوْ الْمَذْيُ مِنْ ذَكَرِهِ، حَتَّى صَارَ فِي قُلْفَتِهِ فَعَلَيْهِ الْوُضُوءُ، وَصَارَ بِمَنْزِلَةِ الْمَرْأَةِ إذَا خَرَجَ الْمَذْي، أَوْ الْبَوْلُ مِنْ فَرْجِهَا، وَلَمْ يَظْهَرْ، وَلَوْ حَشَا الرَّجُلُ إحْلِيلَهُ بِقُطْنَةٍ فَابْتَلَّ الْجَانِبُ الدَّاخِلُ مِنْهَا لَمْ يُنْتَقَضْ وُضُوءُهُ لِعَدَمِ الْخُرُوجِ، وَإِنْ تَعَدَّتْ الْبَلَّةُ إلَى الْجَانِبِ الْخَارِجِ يُنْظَرَ إنْ كَانَتْ الْقُطْنَةُ عَالِيَةً أَوْ مُحَاذِيَةً لِرَأْسِ الْإِحْلِيلِ يُنْتَقَضُ وُضُوءُهُ لِتَحَقُّقِ الْخُرُوجِ
[4] Thanwi, Imdadul Fatawa, Hukm Ratoobatil Farj, page 121-130