What Necessities a Ritual Bath (Ghusl)?
I found a small, odorless, brown spot that I believe is a food stain, but I am unsure. I have no recollection of a wet dream or ejaculation, but there was a smell which I believe to be more like sweat and, possibly, a bit like semen. There were no visible semen traces except that spot. Is this paranoia (waswas), or should I ignore this entirely?
In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate.
A major ceremonial bath (ghusl) is only necessitated for a male by:
2. Intercourse
Since there is no recollection of a wet dream or ejaculation, there should be no reason to suspect the smell to be sperm, especially since you are more convinced that it is sweat. Thus, there is no reason to believe that the odorless stain (more so since it is brown) is anything but the food stain you suspected.
I pray this is of benefit and that Allah guides and protects you.
Shaykh Irshaad Sedick was raised in South Africa in a traditional Muslim family. He graduated from Dar al-Ulum al-Arabiyyah al-Islamiyyah in Strand, Western Cape, under the guidance of the late world-renowned scholar, Shaykh Taha Karaan.
Shaykh Irshaad received Ijaza from many luminaries of the Islamic world, including Shaykh Taha Karaan, Mawlana Yusuf Karaan, and Mawlana Abdul Hafeez Makki, among others.
He is the author of the text “The Musnad of Ahmad ibn Hanbal: A Hujjah or not?” He has served as the Director of the Discover Islam Centre and Al Jeem Foundation. For the last five years till present, he has served as the Khatib of Masjid Ar-Rashideen, Mowbray, Cape Town.
Shaykh Irshaad has thirteen years of teaching experience at some of the leading Islamic institutes in Cape Town). He is currently building an Islamic online learning and media platform called ‘Isnad Academy’ and pursuing his Master’s degree in the study of Islam at the University of Johannesburg. He has a keen interest in healthy living and fitness.
