washing. Since its required ruling is washing, and washing cannot be combined with wiping, he must renew his purification, wash his feet, and then put them on again.

The author’s statement, “after ritual impurity,” indicates that if part—or all—of the area subject to the obligation becomes exposed before the first occurrence of ritual impurity, it causes no harm.

For example, if he puts on his leather socks for the dawn prayer and remains in a state of purity until shortly before noon, then removes his leather socks during the forenoon and puts them back on while still in his initial state of purity, he does not have to renew his purification.

Question: If someone removes his leather socks or similar footwear, must he renew his purification? There are four views concerning this matter (1):

The first view is that of the author: he must renew his purification, even if they are removed shortly after performing ablution and before the limbs have dried. He must perform ablution again. The reason is that, once the wiped covering has been removed, purification is invalidated in its place; and purification cannot be divided. Thus, if it is invalidated in one limb, it is invalidated in all of them. This is the established position of the school.

The second view is that, if he removes them before the limbs have dried, it suffices for him to wash only his feet. Since purification has been invalidated in the two feet while the limbs have not yet dried, continuity has not been interrupted. He may therefore build upon his initial ablution and wash his feet.

The third view is that he is required to wash only his feet, even if they have dried.