then wiped his head. In such a case, it may be held that he is excused on account of his ignorance, just as the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, excused many people for their ignorance in similar circumstances.

Continuity

His statement: “and continuity.” This is the sixth of the obligatory elements of ablution. It means that each act should immediately follow the preceding one, without delay. Continuity is stipulated because Allah, Exalted is He, says:

“O you who believe, when you rise for prayer, wash your faces…” [al-Ma'idah 5:6]

The point of evidence is that the consequence of a condition occurs consecutively and is not delayed, since that which is conditional necessarily follows the condition.

The evidence for it from the Sunnah is that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, performed ablution continuously, without leaving an interval between its limbs. Also, the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, saw a man who had performed ablution but had left a spot on his foot, the size of a fingernail, untouched by water, so he instructed him to perform ablution properly. (1) In Sahih Muslim, in the hadith of Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, he said: “Go back and perform your ablution properly.” (352)

In the Musnad of Imam Ahmad, it is reported that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, saw a man praying with a dry spot on the top of his foot, about the size of a dirham, which water had not reached. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, instructed him to repeat his ablution and his prayer. (2) The difference between the two wordings—if we do not reconcile