Ruling on using limited, clean water when hands are impure and nothing is available for scooping?

Chapter on Siwak and the Sunnah of Wudu

Al-Mughni

Book of Purification

Book 2 · Issue 1 · Bab 4

Open in Qurani

Primary text

If minimal clean water is present and one cannot scoop it, and the hands are impure, it is permissible to take the water into the mouth and pour it onto the hand. Alternatively, if one can immerse a cloth or similar item and pour the water onto the hands, this action is to be taken. If none of these methods are possible, tayammum (dry ablution) must be performed, and the water must be left alone to prevent both the water becoming impure and the person becoming contaminated by it. However, if the hands were not washed after waking from night sleep, one must perform wudu (ablution) with that water, according to scholars who maintain the water retains its original state of purity. If the water is considered used (*musta’mal*), one must perform wudu with it and also perform tayammum alongside it.

Supporting text

If someone awakens from sleep and cannot ascertain whether it was night sleep or day sleep, washing the hands is not obligatory, as the presumption is that the obligation does not exist, and doubt does not establish an obligation.