I say, and with Allah's guidance: It is necessary to perform ghusl (ritual washing) when semen is discharged with a flow and desire at the time of separation, even during sleep: whether the semen is discharged due to sexual intercourse, a wet dream, looking, or masturbation. There is no difference in this between a man and a woman. The flow refers to the quick pouring from the head of the penis, not from its place of origin, and the separation from its location and resting place, which is the spine in men and the collarbones (the bones of the chest) in women. This is related to the condition of desire, not the flow, as it only occurs at the time of exit. Therefore, desire is a condition at the time of separation, not at the time of exit; because when semen exits in this manner, the person becomes in a state of major impurity (junub). Allah, the Exalted, said: {And if you are in a state of major impurity, then purify yourselves} [Al-Ma'idah: 6]. And from Ali (may Allah be pleased with him), he said: "I was a man who experienced pre-seminal fluid (madhi), and I would wash myself in winter until my back cracked, and I mentioned that to the Prophet (peace be upon him) or it was mentioned to him. He said to me: Do not do that; when you see pre-seminal fluid, wash your penis and perform ablution for prayer, and when you have poured water, then perform ghusl." This is in Sahih Ibn Khuzaymah 1: 15, Sahih Ibn Hibban 3: 385, Sunan Abu Dawood 1: 53, and Al-Mujtaba 1: 111. And from Ali (may Allah be pleased with him), he said: "I was a man who experienced pre-seminal fluid, and I asked the Prophet (peace be upon him), and he said: When you have an emission - and emission (hadhf) is throwing, which can only occur with desire - then perform ghusl from major impurity, and if you are not emitting, then do not perform ghusl." This is in Musnad Ahmad 1: 107, and Al-Tahanawi said in I'laa Al-Sunan 1: 186: All of its narrators are trustworthy except for Jawab, who is truthful but was accused of heresy, so the chain is acceptable. And from Mujahid, a man asked Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him): "Whenever I urinate, I follow it with the flowing water that comes from which a child is born... He said: Do you find desire in your heart? He said: No. He said: Do you feel numbness in your body? He said: No. He said: This is merely a coldness, and you are only required to perform ablution from it." This was narrated by Al-Hakim in his history, and its chain is good. See also: I'laa Al-Sunan 1: 189, Radd Al-Muhtar 1: 107, Umdat Al-Ri'ayah 1: 81, Al-Labab 1: 16, and Talabat Al-Talabah p. 18, and Allah knows best.