What is the ruling on touching and reciting the Holy Quran, and on praying and fasting, with semi-continuous discharge of semen during defecation and urination? And is ghusl (ritual bath) obligatory in this case?

If what exits from you during urination is semen, then it takes the ruling of semen that exits by choice. Thus, you must refrain from praying and touching the Qur’an before performing ghusl (ritual bath). However, if its discharge is continuous, such that it does not stop, then scholars have differed on this matter:

- The majority of scholars: It nullifies ritual purity (tahara). - The Malikis: It does not nullify ritual purity if its discharge continues for half or more of the time, and ablution (wudu) is recommended if it does not cause hardship.

Those who hold the view that it nullifies ritual purity have differed on whether ghusl is obligatory or if wudu suffices:

- The Shafi'is: Ghusl is obligatory for every prayer. - The Hanbalis: Wudu suffices.

Therefore, it is more cautious to perform ghusl when intending to pray or recite the Qur’an, and what exits involuntarily thereafter does not matter. If ghusl is difficult for you, wudu suffices.