Is *Tahammum* permissible before pouring out water from two suspect containers when pure water is unavailable?
Chapter on what purification is achieved with regarding water
Al-Mughni
Book of Purification
Primary text
There are two narrations regarding whether *Tahammum* is permitted before pouring out the water from the two suspect containers. The first narration states it is not permissible because there is certainly pure water remaining, precluding *Tahammum*. If the waters are mixed or poured out, *Tahammum* becomes permissible because no certainly pure water remains. The second narration, which is asserted as correct, permits *Tahammum* before this action, as the individual is incapable of using the surely pure water. This is analogous to a situation where one is unable to draw water from a well. Furthermore, if drinking is necessary, one must employ conjecture to drink from the one believed to be pure, as necessity permits drinking from impure water when no alternative exists.
Supporting text
If one drinks from one of the suspect containers or eats from suspect provisions, and later finds pure water, there are two views on whether washing is required afterwards: one view states it is not required because the original state was purity, which is not removed by doubt; the second view states washing is required because the item was prohibited from use due to potential impurity, thus its effect must be removed like a certainly impure item.