Short answer
In the Hanafi school ghusl is only fard when semen leaves its place with desire. Semen that comes out because of illness, strain, lifting or with urine, without desire, needs only wudu. If semen left with desire comes out after ghusl before you urinate or sleep, ghusl is repeated. The Shafi'i school requires ghusl for any semen.
Ghusl is fard when mani separates from its place with desire, even if it exits later without force. Mani that separates without desire, through illness, a blow, lifting or straining, requires wudu only. If the remainder of mani exits after ghusl and before urinating, sleeping or walking much, ghusl is repeated (Abu Hanifa and Muhammad); after urinating it is not.
Other madhhabs
- Shafi'i
- Any exit of semen requires ghusl, with or without desire.
Explanation
Ali had so much madhy that he kept doing ghusl until the skin of his back cracked. The Prophet ﷺ told him not to: for madhy, wash and make wudu, and when the water gushes out, do ghusl. Hanafi scholars take "gushing" to mean semen (mani) released with desire, which is what makes ghusl fard.
Common cases in the Hanafi school:
- Whitish drops at the end of urinating: usually wadi, a thick fluid after urine. Wudu only. Wash it off.
- Semen coming out with urine or while straining on the toilet, with no desire: wudu only.
- Semen after a medical procedure, an injury or lifting something heavy: wudu only.
- Arousal, then semen comes out later without pleasure because you held it back: ghusl is fard, since it separated with desire.
- Semen comes out after your ghusl, before you have urinated, slept or walked a good distance: repeat the ghusl. Prayers you prayed before it came out stay valid.
- Semen comes out after ghusl and after urinating: wudu only.
This is why urinating before ghusl after intimacy is a good habit: it clears what is left. If you wake with wetness, see wet dreams and ghusl.
If fluid comes out often for a medical reason, such as a prostate problem, ask a doctor, and a mufti about whether the rules of a ma'dhur (excused person) apply to you. Followers of the Shafi'i school do ghusl for any semen, so they should ask a scholar of that school.
Ask a mufti about your own case. This answer explains the general ruling. When the details of your situation matter, as they do here, ask a qualified mufti and give them the full facts. Where to ask a scholar.
The evidence
Sunan Abi Dawud 206
Grading to be checked... فاذا فضخت الماء فاغتسل ...
"When the water gushes out, do ghusl."
Ties ghusl to semen released with force and desire, the basis of the Hanafi condition.
Sahih Muslim 343
Sahih... انما الماء من الماء ...
"Water (ghusl) is only for water (semen)."
Links ghusl to the emission of semen.
Where the ruling is recorded
- al-Hidaya, Kitab al-Taharat, chapter on ghusl. Mani that separates with desire requires ghusl; the case of mani exiting after ghusl before urinating.
- al-Durr al-Mukhtar with Radd al-Muhtar, Kitab al-Taharah, causes of ghusl. Mani without desire from illness or lifting requires only wudu.
- Minhaj al-Talibin, Kitab al-Taharah, chapter on ghusl. The Shafi'i view that any exit of mani requires ghusl.
Checked by our team. For a more accurate answer to your own situation, consult a scholar. Quran translation by Sahih International. Hadith Arabic from the standard editions of the six books and the Muwatta, with gradings as recorded there; the English is our own rendering. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.