Is continuity (mualah) required in ablution?
Chapter on the Obligation of Purification
Al-Mughni
Book of Purification
Primary text
Continuity is obligatory according to Imam Ahmad, this being the position of Al-Awza'i and one opinion of Imam Al-Shafi'i. The evidence supporting this obligation is based on the narration where the Prophet, peace be upon him, ordered a man to repeat his ablution and prayer because a spot the size of a Dirham on his foot was not washed; if continuity were not required, simply washing that spot would have sufficed. Furthermore, ablution is an act of worship corrupted by impurity, thus continuity is required, analogous to prayer. The Prophet’s practice demonstrated continuity, and he commanded the one who omitted it to repeat the ablution.
Supporting text
Malik stated that if the separation is intentional, the ablution is invalidated; otherwise, it is not. Hanbal narrated from Ahmad that continuity is not obligatory, which is the position of Abu Hanifa, based on the apparent meaning of the Quranic verse, as the command is to wash the limbs, so any manner of washing should suffice, and because ablution is one of the two purifications (implying washing/ghusl), continuity is not mandatory like it is not mandatory in the major ablution (ghusl al-janabah).