such substances and does not excuse what is difficult to avoid, his is the weakest of the views. This applies when the fuel is impure. As for pure fuel, such as wood, reeds, and thorny branches, it has no effect on purity, by scholarly agreement. The same applies to the dung of animals whose meat is lawful to eat—camels, cattle, sheep and goats, and horses—for it is pure according to the more correct of the two scholarly views. And Allah knows best.

As for the water flowing over the bathhouse floor, spilling and running off the bodies of those bathing for cleanliness, to remove sexual impurity, or for other purposes, it is pure, even if it contains washing agents such as lote leaves, khitmī, and ushnān. The exception is when some of it is known to contain urine, vomit, or other impurities. The water mixed with these impurities is then subject to its own ruling. The water flowing before and after it is not subject to that same ruling, without dispute, particularly since this water is undoubtedly flowing.

Indeed, even the water in the bathhouse basin is considered flowing water, according to the more correct of the two scholarly views, if the basin is overflowing. Ahmad and other scholars have expressly stated this. It resembles water in a hollow or similar depression in a river: although the current passes over its surface, the water is gradually replaced, departing as fresh water takes its place. It merely moves away more slowly than water whose entire volume is flowing.

Scholars have differed over flowing water, holding two views: