Is it obligatory to perform ghusl (ritual bathing) due to a water-like fluid that exits during sleep after unintentionally seeing sexual images during the day?
One must be cautious and avoid looking at forbidden things, as this can lead to worse outcomes. What exits during sleep might be semen (mani), which necessitates ghusl (ritual bath), or pre-seminal fluid (madhy), which necessitates wudu (ablution) and washing whatever it has touched. To differentiate between the two, one can refer to Fatwa No. 163865. When in doubt between the two, the enquirer has the choice to consider it either semen, and thus perform ghusl, or pre-seminal fluid, and thus perform wudu and wash the affected area. This is the view of the Shafi'i school.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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