it has been affected by impurity, thus the water becomes impure, and his limbs then become impure by it. The washing of the limbs of ablution was prescribed for radiance and cleanliness so that the servant may be in the best and most perfect state when standing before Allah, the Glorified and Exalted. Furthermore, even if we were to grant that, we are only accustomed to acts of worship in the washing of the hands, whereas vessels and garments must only be washed due to impurities. It has been narrated in a version: "The purification of one's vessel, if a dog laps in it, is that he should wash it seven times." Narrated by Abu Dawud (11), and "purification" (12) cannot be except in a place of impurity.

Regarding their statement that Allah the Almighty commanded the eating of what the dog caught before washing it: We say that Allah the Almighty commanded the eating of it, and the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) commanded the washing of it, so both commands are to be acted upon. Even if we were to grant that it is not obligatory to wash it, it would be because it causes hardship, and thus it was pardoned. Their hadith is a specific case (qadiyyah fi 'ayn); it is possible that the water inquired about was voluminous, which is why he said in another instance, when asked about water and the beasts of prey that frequent it: "When water reaches two qullas (large vessels), it does not carry impurity." [And because water does not become impure except by changing, according to one of our narrations, and their drinking from the water does not change it, so it does not make it impure] (13).

Second Category: That which is disputed, which is the rest of the beasts of prey, except for the cat and what is smaller than it in creation, as well as birds of prey, the domestic donkey, and the mule. According to Ahmad, their leftover water is impure; if one finds nothing else, he should perform tayammum and leave it.

It is narrated from Ibn Umar that he disliked the leftover water of a donkey. This is the view of al-Hasan, Ibn Sirin, al-Sha'bi (14), al-Awza'i, Hammad (15), and Ishaq.

Regarding Ahmad (may Allah have mercy on him), he said concerning the mule and the donkey: If one does not find anything other than their leftover water, he should perform tayammum with it. This is the view of Abu Hanifa and al-Thawri.