Is one who has minor ritual impurity obligated to use the limited amount of water they possess for purification?
Chapter on Tayammum
Al-Mughni
Book of Purification
Primary text
There are two differing views on whether a person experiencing minor ritual impurity (*Hadath Asghar*) must use the limited amount of water they possess for ablution (*Wudu*). The first opinion dictates that usage is obligatory. This is supported by analogy to the greater state of impurity (*Janabah*), and because the person is capable of partial purification with water, thus it becomes obligatory, similar to a situation where part of the body is sound and part is wounded.
Supporting text
The second view asserts that usage is not obligatory. This is based on the condition of uninterrupted sequence (*Muwalah*) being necessary for *Wudu*. If only part of the limbs is washed, it is ineffective, unlike in the case of *Janabah*. Furthermore, if water is available later, washing only the unwashed parts suffices for *Janabah*, whereas for minor impurity, a complete renewal of purification (*isti'naf*) is required. The analogy to having a partially wounded body is rejected because the incapacity due to part of the body differs from incapacity regarding part of the obligatory act.