What is the ruling regarding non-water liquids becoming impure upon contact with filth?
Chapter on what purification is achieved with regarding water
Al-Mughni
Book of Purification
Primary text
There are three narrations concerning non-water liquids when they encounter filth. The first narration states that any amount of the liquid becomes impure upon contact with filth because the Prophet (peace be upon him), when asked about a mouse falling into clarified butter (*sumn*), replied, "If it is a liquid, do not approach it." This narration, recorded by Imam Ahmad in his Musnad with a chain considered sound according to the criteria of Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim, makes no distinction between a large or small quantity. The reasoning is that such liquids lack the capacity to repel impurity, just as they cannot purify other things, thus they cannot repel impurity from themselves, similar to a small quantity of water.
Supporting text
The second narration holds that these liquids are treated like water; they do not become impure unless the quantity reaches two large pitchers (*qullatayn*) or unless the liquid changes due to the impurity. Imam Ahmad, when questioned about a dog lapping from clarified butter or oil, hoped that if it was in a large vessel like a jar (*jabb*) or similar, it would not be harmful to eat, because it is a large quantity and does not become impure without change, similar to water. The third narration distinguishes liquids based on their origin: those fundamentally derived from water, such as date vinegar (*khal tamri*), repel impurity because water is the prevailing element within them, and those that are not are treated otherwise. However, the first opinion is considered preferable.