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What is Janabah (impurity following sexual activity) and when should I make Ghusl?

Janabahh is impurity from sexual activity and it requires Ghusl. It occurs in two cases: after sexual intercourse and ejaculation (release of Maniy - fluid emitted after orgasm when climax is reached), even without sexual intercourse.

In the case of sexual intercourse, it occurs when the private part of the man enters the wife's private part, and regardless of whether there was any orgasm, discharge or not from both sides. Abu Hurayrah (Radi'Allahu Anhu) narrated that the Prophet (Salla Allahu 'Alayhi Wa Sallam) said: "When a man sits between the four parts (arms and legs of his wife) and has intercourse with her, then Ghusl is obligatory." (Narrated by al-Bukhari, and Muslim, the latter added: "Even if he does not ejaculate.").

In the case of Maniy emitted after orgasm, women also need to perform Ghusl. This applies for Maniy emitted during intimacy with their husband, or even in the case of wet dreams. Abu Sa'id al-Khudri reported that the Prophet (Salla Allahu 'Alayhi Wa Sallam) said in a hadith: "Water is only made obligatory due to the fluid (i.e., meaning Ghusl is required when semen is emitted)." (Narrated by Muslim).

Women should distinguish between Maniy and the other type of discharges that can come out from intimacy, knowing the fluid that lubricates the vagina for easier intercourse. Maniy is yellow and thin and is emitted after orgasm, usually followed by a feeling of physical exhaustion. Umm Salamah (Radi'Allahu Anha) said: The Prophet (Salla Allahu 'Alayhi Wa Sallam) said: "The water of the man is thick and white, and the water of the woman is thin and yellow." (Narrated by Muslim). If this is emitted, Ghusl becomes obligatory. On the other hand, the lubricating discharge does not necessitate Ghusl but requires Wudu.

Prayer itself is the most direct consequence: see can you pray while in a state of Janabah for why it is closed until Ghusl, and why that closure does not carry the waiting period Hayd does. A person in Janabah faces the same restriction on touching the Mushaf as a menstruating woman, until Ghusl restores their purity; see can you touch the Qur'an during Janabah for that ruling applied directly to Janabah itself. The same is true of reciting Qur'an during Janabah: it rests on its own hadith and is not simply borrowed from the ruling on hayd. The mosque itself is out of reach in the same way; see entering or staying in a mosque during Janabah for the ayah it rests on and the one concession that allows entry for a genuine need. For a pilgrim, tawaf is closed on the same terms while Janabah lasts, reopening the instant Ghusl is complete. Fasting sits outside all of this: see can you fast while in a state of Janabah for why it is not affected the way prayer, recitation and entering the mosque are. A mustahadah's routine is lighter again: one Ghusl when her hayd or nifas ends and istihadah begins, then only Wudu before each prayer after that; see praying during istihadah for why repeated Ghusl is not required. When water for that Ghusl is genuinely out of reach, such as while travelling, tayammum takes its place instead; see what if your period starts while you're travelling for how that concession works and when it lifts. The steps of that ghusl, and the one hadith specific to hayd, are set out in how to perform ghusl after your period ends.