What is the ruling if the original limb cannot be distinguished from the extra one?

Chapter on the Obligation of Purification

Al-Mughni

Book of Purification

Book 2 · Issue 3 · Bab 5

Open in Qurani

Primary text

If the original limb cannot be distinguished from the extra one, both must be washed. This is because washing one of them is obligatory, and one cannot be certain of fulfilling the obligation except by washing both. This is analogous to a situation where one of a person's two hands is defiled, but the specific hand is unknown.