Does scooping small amounts of water for washing hands invalidate the remaining water for purification?

Chapter on the Obligation of Purification

Al-Mughni

Book of Purification

Book 2 · Issue 1 · Bab 5

Open in Qurani

Primary text

The remaining water is not invalidated when scooping a small amount of water with the hand for washing the hands prior to ablution. This is evidenced by the description of the Prophet's ablution provided by Abdullah ibn Zayd, where he performed ablution without any mention of avoiding scooping the water used for washing the hands. If this action invalidated the water, the Prophet, peace be upon him, would have been most deserving of knowing it and would have been obligated to clarify it due to the need for it, as this point is not known without clarification. The act of scooping is for obtaining water, not for washing the hand itself; therefore, the intention to scoop supersedes the intention for ritual purification.

Supporting text

Some Shafi'i scholars hold that the water becomes used water merely by scooping it, arguing that the hand is being washed intending purification, thus resembling dipping the hand into the water with that intention.