And if it is found with one of the washings, then it is a different category, so the two reports are reconciled.

Abu Hanifah said: The number [of washings] is not mandatory for any type of impurity; rather, it is washed until it is predominantly likely that it has been purified from the impurity. This is because it was narrated from the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) that he said regarding a dog lapping from a vessel: "Wash it three, five, or seven times" (3), and he did not specify a [fixed] number. And because it is an impurity, a [fixed] number is not mandatory, as if it were on the ground.

Our evidence is what Abu Hurayrah narrated that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "If a dog laps from the vessel of one of you, let him wash it seven times." Agreed upon. And in the narration of Muslim and Abu Dawud: "The first of them with earth." As for the hadith of 'Abd Allah ibn al-Mughaffal which we mentioned, their hadith (4) is narrated by 'Abd al-Wahhab ibn al-Dahhak, and he is weak (5). Others among the reliable narrators have narrated: "Let him wash it seven times." Even if it were to be assumed that it implies doubt on the part of the narrator, it is appropriate to suspend judgment on it and act upon the others. As for the ground, concessions were made in washing it due to difficulty, unlike other things.

Section: If he uses something else in place of earth, such as 'ushnan (6), soap, bran (7), or the like, or washes it an eighth time, Abu Bakr said: There are two views regarding this:

The first is that it does not suffice, because it is a purification for which earth was commanded, so nothing else can stand in its place, like tayammum (dry ablution). And because the command to use it is an act of worship whose reason is not rationally perceived, so analogy cannot be applied to it.

The second is that it does suffice, because these materials are more effective than earth in removing [the impurity], so naming earth was