What is the legal purpose of ritual bathing (ghusl) upon the emission of semen, despite it being ritually pure, whereas ablution (wudu') suffices upon the emission of urine or prostatic fluid (madhy)?
The legal purpose of performing (ritual bath) upon the emission of semen or for any other reason necessitating ghusl is to make permissible the performance of prayer, (circumambulation of the Kaaba), or other acts for which ritual purity (tahara) from ritual impurity () is a prerequisite for their validity. This is based on Allah Almighty's saying: "And if you are in a state of , then purify yourselves" (Quran 5:6), and the Prophet's (peace be upon him) saying: "No prayer is accepted without purification." The commands of the are divided into two categories: those whose wisdom is apparent, and those whose understanding is beyond our intellect. Ghusl from janabah (major ritual impurity) falls into the category where the aspect of worship (ta'abbud) predominates, though it has many wisdoms. Among them is that it is purer and cleaner, and it restores vitality and freshness to the body after intercourse. Semen is a substance composed of all parts of the body, and the body is affected by its expulsion, unlike urine. Bathing with water restores the lost strength and vitality. Physicians have explicitly stated that bathing after intercourse restores the body's strength and stimulates blood circulation, and that neglecting it causes significant harm.
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