I asked `Uthman bin `Affan about a man who engaged in the sexual intercourse with his wife but did not discharge. `Uthman replied, "He should perform ablution like that for the prayer after washing his private parts." `Uthman added, "I heard that from Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)." I asked `Ali bin Abi Talib, Az- Zubair bin Al-`Awwam, Talha bin 'Ubaidullah and Ubai bin Ka`b and they gave the same reply. (Abu Aiyub said that he had heard that from Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) ) (This order was canceled later on so one has to take a bath. See, Hadith No. 180).
Hadith Commentary: Bathing (Ghusl)
Book: Sahih al-Bukhari | Hadith: 292
Textual Analysis
This narration addresses the ruling concerning sexual intercourse without ejaculation. The initial position reported by multiple Companions, including 'Uthman, 'Ali, and others, was that only wudu' (ablution) was required after washing the private parts.
The Companions' unanimous agreement indicates this was the established practice during the early period of Islam, demonstrating the importance of consulting multiple reliable sources in deriving rulings.
Legal Evolution
The final parenthetical note is crucial - this initial ruling was abrogated (naskh) by later revelation. The abrogation demonstrates the gradual perfection of Islamic law, where earlier rulings were replaced by more comprehensive ones.
The complete bath (ghusl) became obligatory after any sexual intercourse, regardless of emission, as established in Hadith 180. This represents the final, permanent ruling on this matter.
Scholarly Methodology
This hadith illustrates important principles of Islamic jurisprudence: the consideration of abrogation in deriving rulings, the value of multiple chains of transmission, and the evolution of legal rulings through divine revelation.
The Companions' meticulous preservation of both the initial and final rulings demonstrates their careful approach to transmitting the complete Shari'ah.