by soil is not physical, but spiritual.(1) Thus, when a person performs tayammum, he is not purified in a physical sense, but in a spiritual one.

His statement, “and the like,” refers to soap and similar substances, for nothing purifies [impure water] except water. This is the position adopted by the author, and it is the established school.

The correct view is that if the change in impure water disappears by any means whatsoever, it becomes tahur, because whenever a ruling is established on account of an effective cause, it ceases when that cause ceases.

What difference is there whether it is a large or a small amount? The effective cause is the same: whenever the impurity is removed, it becomes tahur. This view is also easier to understand and apply.

Know that, according to the established school, this ruling applies only to water, not to other liquids. All other liquids become impure merely through contact [with impurity], even if they amount to one hundred qullahs. Thus, if someone has a large vessel containing liquid ghee and a single dog hair falls into it, it becomes impure; it may not be sold, bought, eaten, or drunk.

The correct view is that substances other than water are like water: they do not become impure unless they undergo a change.

He doubts the impurity or purity of water or something else

His statement, “And if he doubts the impurity of water or something else, or its purity,” means: he doubts its impurity when its original state was purity, or he doubts its purity when its original state was impurity.

An example of doubt concerning impurity is that you have pure water and do not know whether it has become impure; then you find in it some dung, but do not know whether it is the dung of a camel or the dung of a