How can the type of fluid discharged from me – whether semen or prostatic fluid – be determined after waking up from sleep, with doubt and no recollection of a wet dream?

Semen (maniy) and pre-seminal fluid (madhiy) can be distinguished by specific characteristics. For a man, semen is a thick, white fluid that exits with a gush and desire, followed by relaxation. Its scent resembles the spathe of a date palm, and when dry, it smells like egg white. As for pre-seminal fluid, it is a thin, sticky, white fluid that exits upon arousal without gushing or subsequent relaxation. Its emission may not even be felt. Both men and women experience it.

If the discharge is semen, then a ritual bath (ghusl) is obligatory, and the prayers performed before the ghusl must be repeated. If it is pre-seminal fluid, then prayer is valid after washing the affected area of the penis, body, and clothes, then performing ablution (wudu) and praying in clean clothes.

If the nature of the discharge (whether it is semen or pre-seminal fluid) is unknown, the Shafi'is offer a choice: either consider it semen, making ghusl obligatory and requiring the repetition of prayers, or consider it pre-seminal fluid, in which case prayer is valid if the impurity is washed, ablution is performed, and one prays in clean clothes. However, if one prayed with the impurity of pre-seminal fluid due to ignorance or forgetfulness, repetition of the prayer is not required according to the more preponderant opinion.