interlacing. As for soil, it does not flow, so the fingers need to be interlaced. (1)

We say: there is room for consideration as to whether interlacing the fingers should be prescribed at all, even as a sunnah, because the Messenger ﷺ did not interlace his fingers in the hadith of Ammar.

If it is said: Does this not fall under the general purport of the hadith of Laqit ibn Sabirah, may Allah be pleased with him:

“Perform ablution thoroughly, interlace the fingers, and draw water deeply into the nose,” (2)

we reply: No, because the hadith of Laqit ibn Sabirah concerns purification with water.

For this reason, there remains some reservation concerning the recommendation of interlacing the fingers in dry ablution, for two reasons:

First, it has not been narrated from the Prophet ﷺ.

Second, dry ablution is founded upon facilitation and ease, unlike purification with water. In purification from major ritual impurity with water, the entire body must be covered; whereas in dry ablution, only two limbs are involved. Moreover, according to the stronger view, it is not obligatory in dry ablution to cover the entire face and hands. Rather, concession is made for whatever cannot be reached by wiping except with difficulty, such as the inner parts of the hair. Thus, it is not obligatory for the soil to reach them, even if the hair is thin; only the outer surface is wiped. In ablution with water, however, it is obligatory to ensure that it reaches