What is the ruling if doubt arises concerning the intention during the process of purification?
Chapter on the Obligation of Purification
Al-Mughni
Book of Purification
Primary text
If doubt occurs regarding the intention during purification, one must restart the entire purification, as it is an act of worship where a prerequisite is doubted while the act is ongoing. The intention itself is defined as the purpose (*Qasd*), and exact simultaneity is not required; if one knows they initiated the act with the purpose of performing ablution, whether concurrently or shortly before, the intention is deemed present. If doubt arises concerning this existence during the process, the preceding actions are invalid.
Supporting text
If doubt arises concerning the washing of a limb or wiping the head, the ruling is as if the act was not performed, as the default presumption is non-existence, unless the doubt is mere mental suggestion (waswas), in which case it is disregarded. If doubt arises after completing the purification, it should be disregarded because it is a doubt concerning an act of worship after its completion, analogous to doubting a prerequisite of prayer. However, there is an opinion that the purification is invalidated because its ruling effect remains, unlike prayer, which is concluded. The former view is stronger: that which was ruled valid before the doubt does not cease due to doubt, similar to doubting the existence of a nullifier of purity.