such voluntary prayers as those for which there is a specific reason—according to the stronger view. This is based on the view that dry ablution merely permits prayer and does not remove ritual impurity.

The correct view, however, is that it does remove ritual impurity. Thus, whenever one performs dry ablution, at any time, it is valid, as explained previously (1).

“And he cannot find water, or its price is excessively high, or it is priced beyond his means, or he fears harm to his body from using it or seeking it …”

His statement, “and he cannot find water”: this is the second condition for the validity of dry ablution: that he cannot find water, neither in his home nor, if he is travelling, among his belongings, nor anywhere nearby.

His statement, “or its price is excessively high,” means that if he finds water at a price substantially higher than its usual price, he resorts to dry ablution, even if he possesses thousands of dirhams. They reasoned that such an increase renders it tantamount to unavailable.

The correct view is that if he possesses its price and is able to pay it, he must buy it, whatever its price may be. The evidence for this is Allah’s statement: “and you cannot find water” [al-Ma'idah 5:6]. Allah, Most High, made the absence of water a condition for dry ablution, whereas in this case water is available. Nor is there any harm in purchasing it, since he can afford it. As for its price being high, that is a matter of supply and demand, or of some people taking advantage of others’ need and raising the price