Discharges from a man and a woman
Question
If a man emits semen (not sperm), can he still pray or does he have to take a fard bath and from a woman’s perspective does she need to take a fard bath as well? N.B. No sexual activities are involved.
Answer
There are three different discharges that can emit from a man and a woman. One is known as ‘Wadi’, the second is known as ‘Mazi’ and the third is known as ‘Mani’. Out of the three, Mani is that which is known as sperm/semen and this is normally emitted when one is engaged in sexual intercourse or has a wetdream. In this case, a bath will become compulsory upon the person who has experienced this discharge.
Mazi on the other hand is unlike Mani, and it comes out on its own for different reasons. This does not cause a bath to become compulsory. However, one will be required to wash the private organ and remove the impurities from the body/clothing and then perform a fresh wuzu. The same law is applicable to Wadi. Regarding this ruling there is the tradition of Ali (RA) in which he states, ‘I used to emit Mazi, so I asked a man to ask the Messenger of Allah (SAS) about it. The Prophet (SAS) said, ‘Do wuzu, and wash your private parts’. (Bukhari, Muslim). Aisha (RA) is also reported to have said, ‘From Mani there is Ghusl (a compulsory bath), and from Mazi and Wadi, one should do wuzu.
Based on this explaination, it shows that what has been emitted (as asked in your question) will not cause a bath to become compulsory upon the man. He will have to wash off the impurity and perform wuzu. If the same occurs in a woman, then she must also remove the impurity of the discharge and then perform wuzu. With the performance of wuzu, they will be allowed to perform Salaah.
And Allah knows best.
Mufti Waseem Khan