Chapter: Matters that Require Ghusl (Ritual Bathing)
Abu Muhammad ibn Barri al-Nahwi (9) said: 'Ghusl al-janaba' is with the fatha (vowel sign) on the ghayn. Ibn al-Sikkit (10) said: 'Al-ghusl' is the water with which one performs ritual bathing, whereas 'al-ghisl' is that with which the head is washed (11).
52 - Issue: Abu al-Qasim, may Allah have mercy upon him, said: '(And what necessitates ghusl is the emission of semen.)'
The definite article (al-) here is for inclusivity (istighraq), meaning that all the causes for ghusl are these six named ones:
First: The emission of semen, which is the thick, pulsating fluid that (1) exits during intense desire; and a woman's semen is thin and yellow. Muslim narrated in his 'Sahih', with his chain of narration, that Umm Sulaym reported that she asked the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him: 'Does a woman see in her sleep what a man sees?' The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said: "If a woman sees that, then she must perform ghusl." Umm Sulaym said: 'I was embarrassed by that.' [She said]: 'Does this actually happen?' The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said: "Yes. From where would the resemblance come! The man's fluid is thick and white, and the woman's fluid is thin and yellow. From whichever of them it rises, or precedes, the resemblance comes from it (3)." In another wording, she said: 'Is ghusl required for a woman if she has an erotic dream?' The Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said: "Yes, if she sees the fluid." (Agreed upon) (5). Thus, the emission of pulsating semen with desire (6) necessitates ghusl for both the man and the woman, whether in a waking state or in sleep. This is the opinion of the generality of the jurists. Al-Tirmidhi (7) stated this, and we know of no disagreement regarding it.
(9) Abu Muhammad Abdullah ibn Barri ibn Abd al-Jabbar al-Masri, the grammarian and linguist, who died in the year 582 AH. Inbah al-Ruwat 2/110; Wafayat al-A'yan 3/108-109. (10) Abu Yusuf Ya'qub ibn Ishaq, Ibn al-Sikkit, the linguist and grammarian, his books are excellent and beneficial; he was killed in the year 244 AH. Tarikh al-Ulama al-Nahwiyyin 201-203. (11) Islah al-Mantiq 33. (1) Omitted from: Al-Asl. (2) Completion from Sahih Muslim and others. (3) Reported by Muslim, in: Chapter on the Obligation of Ghusl for a Woman upon the Emission of Semen, from the Book of Menstruation. Sahih Muslim 1/250. And al-Nasa'i, in: Chapter on the Ghusl of a Woman who sees in her sleep what a man sees, from the Book of Purity. Al-Mujtaba 1/94. And Ibn Majah, in: Chapter on the Woman who sees in her sleep what a man sees, from the Book of Purity. Sunan Ibn Majah 1/197. And Imam Malik, in: Chapter on the Ghusl of a Woman if she sees in her sleep what a man sees. Al-Muwatta 1/51. And Imam Ahmad, in: Al-Musnad 3/121, 199, 282. (4) Omitted from: M.
