Ihtilam: Difference between revisions

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'''Iḥtilām''' (Arabic: {{iarabic|إحتلام}}) refers to discharge of semen in sleep which is considered as a sign of [[puberty]] of men in [[Islam]]. Those who experience ihtilam are called Muhtalim ({{iarabic|مُحتَلِم}}). They are obligated to perform [[Ghusl]] (ritual bath) before performing religious rituals including saying [[prayers]] and observing [[fast]]. If a person is on a fast and experience ihtilam, fasting is not regarded void in that situation.

Ihtilam is as an Arabic terms derived from the term ḥulm (dream) which means semen discharge in sleep. [[Faqihs]] (jurisprudents) believe ihtilam means "semen discharge in sleep" or "ejaculation of semen". Those who experience ihtilam are called muhtalim.

Ihtilam is pointed out in the Holy [[Qur'an]] in [[Sura al-Nur]] verses 58 and 59. In addition [[al-Kulayni]] dedicated a chapter of his book ''[[al-Kafi]]'' to "ihtilam al-rijal wa al-mar'a" (ihtilam of Men and Women) and he cited seven [[hadiths]] in this chapter.

In [[manual of Islamic laws]] there is no chapter or section dedicated to ihtam and its rules but they are cited specifically in sections of [[hajj]] and [[fasting]].

According to Shi'a [[faqihs]] (jurisprudents)و in [[Islam]] Ihtilam is regarded as one of the signs of [[puberty]] of men, and their conclusions are all based on [[hadiths]] narrated by [[Yusuf al-Bahrani]] who described them as mutakathir (abundant).

Those who experience Ihtilam are required to perform [[ghusl]] (ritual bath) before performing religious rituals including saying [[prayers]] and observing [[fast]] or entering mosques, reading Qur'anic verses with obligatory [[sajda]] (prostrating).

If there are doubts on whether it was a semen discharge or not, the rule is that if discharge occurred with the specified signs -in the manuals of Islamic law- such as orgasm, ghusl (full ablution) is required, otherwise it is not.

If a person intended to fast and he experience ihtilam before the time of [[dawn prayers]], ghusl is required before dawn prayers' time. However if he experience ihtilam during the day, [[fasting]] is not regarded void.

If ihtilam occurs during [[ihram]] in hajj, ihram is not regarded void.

 

Some faqihs believe if ihtilam occurs in [[Masjid al-Haram]] or [[al-Masjid al-Nabawi]] it is required to perform [[tayammum]] before leaving the mosque.

Ihtilam is not only assigned to men, and it occurs to women as well. A number of faqihs believed ghusl is not required for muhtalim women which is ascribed in ''[[al-Muqni']]'' by [[Al-Shaykh al-Saduq]]. However most of [[faqihs]] believe that if a woman experiences ihtilam she is required to perform ghusl. Also al-Shaykh al-Saduq has mentioned a narration on the mentioned rule.

A supplication has been narrated from [[Imam al-Sadiq (a)]] that if a person is worried about ihtilam in sleep, he should read this supplication before going to bed:

{{arabic|اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّی أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنَ الِاحْتِلَامِ وَ مِنْ سُوءِ الْأَحْلَامِ وَ مِنْ أَنْ یتَلَاعَبَ بی‌الشَّیطَانُ فِی الْیقَظَةِ وَ الْمَنَامِ}}  

(Oh God, rescue me from bad dreams and ihtilam, and rescue me from wickedness of Satan in deceiving me in my sleep and awareness).