for all of them, even if he intends that none besides it be removed. This is because ritual impurity is a single state, even if its causes are multiple. Thus, if he intends to remove it on account of urination, it is removed.
This does not conflict with the Prophet’s statement, peace and blessings be upon him: “Each person shall have only what he intended,” for he intended purification only from the ritual impurity caused by urination. Ritual impurity is one thing: a person does not acquire one state of ritual impurity if he urinates at one o’clock, then another if he defecates at half past one, and so on. Rather, ritual impurity is one state, while its causes are multiple.
“Or, if [the events require] ghusl, and through his purification he intends one of them, the rest are removed. The intention must be made at the first of the obligatory elements of purification, namely the tasmiyah (saying ‘In the name of Allah’) . . .”
His statement, “Or, if [the events require] ghusl, and through his purification he intends one of them, the rest are removed,” means that several events requiring ghusl may occur together, such as intercourse, ejaculation, menstruation, and postnatal bleeding in the case of a woman. If they occur together and, in performing ghusl, he intends one of them, then all the states of ritual impurity are removed.
The same that is said regarding minor ritual impurity applies here.
His statement, “The intention must be made at the first of the obligatory elements of purification, namely the tasmiyah,” means that the intention must be made at the first obligatory element of purification, which is the tasmiyah.
The intention is the heart’s firm resolve to perform an act of obedience in seeking nearness to Allah the Exalted.
The author intended here to discuss the proper time for the intention—that is, when a person should form it.
His statement, “at,” indicates closeness, as in the saying of Allah the Exalted: “Indeed, those who are near your Lord are not too proud to worship Him; they glorify Him, and to Him they prostrate.” [al-A‘raf]
Thus, this expression indicates closeness. Accordingly, the intention must be concurrent with the act, or precede it by a short interval. If it precedes it by a long interval, it does not suffice.
His statement, “at the first of the obligatory elements of purification”: he did not say, “at the first of the essential acts of purification,” because the obligation comes before the essential acts in purification, and the obligation is the tasmiyah.
This is according to