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Doubtful water and when to prefer Tayammum?

Answered as per Shafi'i Fiqh by Qibla.com

Answered by Sidi Mostafa Azzam

When is it permissible to use doubtful water and when to prefer tayammum?

Answer:
In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

I am not sure what is meant by “doubtful water.” I can think of three possible scenarios:

The water was pure and has now possibly been filthified: the ruling on this water is that it remains pure (because the certainty about its purity is not overruled by uncertainty about its being filthified) and (if not changed or used) is perfectly valid for purification, leaving no room for tayammum. If you prefer to do tayammum instead of using this “doubtful” water, water your plants with it, for example, so that no water remains, then do tayammum.

The water was filthified and has now possibly been purified: the ruling on this water is that remains filthified (because the certainty about its being filthified is not overruled by uncertainty about its purity) and is not valid for purification, thus allowing tayammum if it is the only water available.

The water belongs to someone else and you are doubtful about the owner’s approval of your using it for purification: this water is forbidden to use (because it is forbidden to use someone else’s property in a manner you are not confident he would approve), thus allowing tayammum; though if you used this water for purification, your purification would be valid (though you would have acquired the sin of using it without approval).

And Allah knows best.

Mostafa Azzam

Amman, Jordan

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