or a woman; for that same reason, and the principle is purity, so it is not removed by doubt. I do not know of any disagreement regarding this entire matter.
51- Issue: He said: "Whoever is certain of purity and doubts regarding impurity, or is certain of impurity and doubts regarding purity, he is upon whichever of the two he is certain of."
This means: If he knows that he performed wudu' and doubts whether he became impure or not, he bases his position on being in a state of purity. If he was impure and doubts whether he performed wudu' or not, he is impure. In both cases, he builds upon what he knew before the doubt and disregards the doubt. This is the opinion of al-Thawri, the people of Iraq, al-Awza'i, al-Shafi'i, and the rest of the people of knowledge, as far as we know, except for al-Hasan and Malik. Al-Hasan said: If he doubts regarding impurity while in prayer, he continues in it; and if it was before entering it, he performs wudu'. Malik said: If he doubts regarding impurity, if it frequently overcomes (yastankihu-hu) him, he remains upon his wudu'. But if it does not frequently overcome him, he performs wudu'; because he [has already entered] into the prayer along with the doubt. Our argument is what was narrated by Abdullah bin Zayd who said: The Prophet (peace be upon him) was complained to about a man who fancies, while in prayer, that he senses something. He said: "He should not turn away until he hears a sound or finds an odor." Agreed upon (3). And Muslim reports from Abu Hurayrah, who said: The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: "If one of you senses"
(1) In M: "yulhiqu-hu" (it follows him) in both instances. Yastankihu-hu: meaning it overcomes and dominates him. From this is their saying: "Sleep overcame (istankaha) their eyes." Al-Asas 989. (2) In M: "la yadkhul" (does not enter). (3) Reported by al-Bukhari in: The Chapter of Not Performing Wudu' Due to Doubt Until Certain, and The Chapter of He Who Does Not Consider Wudu' Necessary Except Due to What Issues from the Two Exits (Front and Back), from the Book of Wudu'; and in: The Chapter of He Who Does Not Consider Whispers and Similar Uncertainties, from the Book of Sales. Sahih al-Bukhari 1/46, 55, 3/71. And Muslim in: The Chapter of The Evidence That Whoever Is Certain of Purity Then Doubts Impurity May Pray with That Purity, from the Book of Menstruation. Sahih Muslim 1/276. And Abu Dawud in: The Chapter of If One Doubts Regarding Impurity, from the Book of Purity. Sunan Abi Dawud 1/39. And al-Tirmidhi in: The Chapter of Wudu' from Passing Wind, from the Chapters of Purity. 'Aridat al-Ahwadhi 1/98. And al-Nasa'i in: The Chapter of Wudu' from Passing Wind, from the Book of Purity. Al-Mujtaba 1/83. And Ibn Majah in: The Chapter of There Is No Wudu' Except Due to Impurity, from the Book of Purity. Sunan Ibn Majah 1/171. And Imam Ahmad in: Al-Musnad 63. Also in the chapter is a report from Abu Sa'id al-Khudri, reported by Ibn Majah in the aforementioned location, and Imam Ahmad in: Al-Musnad 3/12, 37, 50, 51, 53, 54. See what follows regarding Abu Hurayrah.
