The third category is that which is in excess of two qullahs. It has two conditions: First, that it is impure without being changed. There is no way to purify it other than by adding an abundance of water. Second, that it is changed by impurity, in which case its purification is achieved by one of three things: adding an abundance of water, the cessation of its change by remaining stationary, or by drawing out from it an amount such that the change is removed and there remains after that two qullahs or more. For if there remains less than two qullahs before its change has ceased, the change does not remain the cause for its impurity, because it became impure without it; thus, the impurity does not cease with the cessation of the change. This is why a large amount is purified by drawing out water and remaining stationary for a long time, while a small amount is not purified. For in the large amount, when the cause of its impurity was the change, its impurity ceased when its cause ceased, like wine when it turns into vinegar. Whereas in the small amount, the cause of its impurity is contact, not the change, so the cessation of the change has no effect on the removal of the impurity.

Section: It is not required for the addition of an abundance of water that the water be poured all at once, because that is not possible. Rather, one should cause the water to reach it with as much intensity as possible, whether from a channel, bucket by bucket, or by rainwater flowing into it, or by it spring-feeding little by little, until it reaches two qullahs, whereby the purification is achieved.

Section: If an abundance of water less than two qullahs is added, and its change ceases, or if earth or a fluid that changes the water or otherwise is cast into it, and its change ceases thereby, there are two views regarding this: First, that it does not become pure thereby, because it does not repel impurity from itself, so it is even less likely to repel it from others, and because it is not purifying (tahur), so purity is not achieved by it, like impure water. Second, that it does become pure, because the cause of its impurity was the change, and it has ceased, so the impurity ceases as it would have if it had ceased by remaining stationary, similar to wine when it turns into vinegar.

Section: Anything other than water from the liquids does not become pure by [the aforementioned] purification, according to the statement of al-Qadi and Ibn Aqil. Ibn Aqil said: "Except for mercury, for due to its strength and cohesion, it runs in the course of a solid substance." This is because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) was asked about ghee (clarified butter) if a mouse fell into it, and he said: "If it is fluid, do not go near it," narrated by Abu Dawud. If there were a way to purify it, he would not have commanded that it be discarded.

Abu al-Khattab chose the view that whatever is capable of being purified, such as oil, can be purified, because it is possible to wash it with water, so it becomes pure by it, like a solid substance. The method of purifying it is by placing it in a large amount of water and stirring it until the water touches all of its parts, then leaving it until it rises above the water and is then retrieved. If one leaves it in a jar and pours water over it, stirs it with the water, and provides it with a spout from which the water exits, it is permissible. The report came regarding ghee, and it is possible that it is not possible to purify it because it solidifies in the water, and it is possible that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) left out the order for its purification due to the difficulty of that and the rarity of its occurrence.