Is it obligatory to purchase water if the price is significant but does not ruin the person's wealth?

Chapter on Tayammum

Al-Mughni

Book of Purification

Book 2 · Issue 4 · Bab 10

Open in Qurani

Primary text

Regarding a situation where water is sold at a significant price that does not cause ruin to one's wealth, there are two differing opinions. One supports the obligation to purchase, citing the capacity to acquire the water as equivalent to possessing it, thus preventing recourse to the substitute (tayammum) based on Quran 5:6. The other view states it is not obligatory because incurring a significant financial burden constitutes harm, similar to fearing a robber taking that amount.

Supporting text

Al-Shafi'i maintains it is not obligatory to purchase water regardless of whether the increase is minor or major.