Madhy

Madhy (also written madhi or madhiy) is pre-seminal fluid, a fluid distinct from semen (mani).

What it means for me: The answers treat madhy as its own case in purity questions. One says madhi is impure and nullifies ablution, and the penis must be washed. Another says if madhiy is discharged, the fast is not invalidated. A third says for madhy, sprinkling water is sufficient; the case is in the answer itself.

Example: A man notices a damp spot on his clothes and cannot tell what it is. Before asking what to do, he needs to know which word applies.

Do not confuse with: Semen (mani). One answer says not all that leaves the penis is semen. It may be madhy, which that answer calls impure, needing only wudu, not ghusl (the full ritual bath). See mani and ghusl.

If scholars differ: The answers differ on what is washed. The first says the penis must be washed, and according to some scholars, the testicles as well. The difference is reported here, not decided.

Where it appears in rulings: Take one case. An answer says if you wish, you may consider it madhy and wash only what it has affected. The case it addresses is in the answer itself; read it in full. Another says istinja (ritual cleansing) is not necessary for something one doubts is madhy or a vaginal discharge. The default, it says, is that madhy has not been emitted.

Appears in about 1,400 answers on this site.