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Is it permissible to perform ablution using a water container into which the limbs are dipped, instead of scooping water with the hand?

1 min readAlso available in العربية

If a person performing ablution dips their hand into a vessel containing a small amount of water with the intention of removing minor ritual impurity after washing their face, this water becomes musta'mal (used) and is insufficient for ablution according to the majority of scholars. However, the Malikis deem it reprehensible if other water is available. Al-Kasani reported that musta'mal water is that which has left the body and settled in a place, and that some scholars consider it impure or pure but not purifying. Al-Nawawi mentioned that according to them, musta'mal water is pure but not purifying. It is stated in Al-Mudawwanah that one should not perform ablution with water that has already been used for ablution, unless no other water is available and the first water was pure.

Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026

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