1/84. Chapter:
Sunan Abi Dawud 206 — Madhi Requires Wudu, Not Ghusl
On Pre-Seminal Fluid (Madhi)
Madhi and Wudu: When Ghusl Is Not Required
Sunan Abi Dawud : 206
Sunan Abi DawudHadith Number 206
حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبِيدَةُ بْنُ حُمَيْدٍ الْحَذَّاءُ، عَنِ الرُّكَيْنِ بْنِ الرَّبِيعِ، عَنْ حُصَيْنِ بْنِ قَبِيصَةَ، عَنْ عَلِيٍّ، - رضى الله عنه - قَالَ كُنْتُ رَجُلاً مَذَّاءً فَجَعَلْتُ أَغْتَسِلُ حَتَّى تَشَقَّقَ ظَهْرِي فَذَكَرْتُ ذَلِكَ لِلنَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم - أَوْ ذُكِرَ لَهُ - فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " لاَ تَفْعَلْ إِذَا رَأَيْتَ الْمَذْىَ فَاغْسِلْ ذَكَرَكَ وَتَوَضَّأْ وُضُوءَكَ لِلصَّلاَةِ فَإِذَا فَضَخْتَ الْمَاءَ فَاغْتَسِلْ " .
'Ali Narrated from:
My prostatic fluid flowed excessively. I used to take a bath until my back cracked (because of frequent washing). I mentioned it to the prophet (May peace be upon him), or the fact was mentioned to him (by someone else). The Messenger of Allah (May peace be upon him) said; Do not do so. When you find prostatic fluid, wash your penis and perform ablution as you do for your prayer, but when you have seminal emission, you should take a bath.
Reference : Sunan Abi Dawud 206In-book reference : Book 1, Hadith 206English translation : Book 1, Hadith 206
Summary of Sunan Abi Dawud Hadith 206
This hadith is one of the key texts people search for as the madhi wudu hadith. Ali said he had excessive prostatic fluid and used to bathe so often that his back cracked. When the matter was mentioned to the Prophet, he said, “Do not do so.” The instruction was clear: when madhi is found, wash the penis and perform ablution as done for prayer. But when seminal emission occurs, then take a bath. The hadith teaches a balanced response. It does not treat every fluid the same way. It also shows that hardship from repeated bathing was corrected by a simpler act based on the type of discharge.
What we learn from this hadith
- Madhi is treated with washing the private part and performing wudu.
- Repeated ghusl for madhi was corrected in this report.
- Seminal emission is mentioned separately as requiring a bath.
