does not preclude its being a means of honoring the right hand in particular; indeed, this is possible even with that description. Do you not see that circumambulating the House is among the noblest acts of worship intended in their own right? It is recommended to remain close to the House while doing so. Nevertheless, the left side is nearer the House, because in this circular movement the right side relies upon the left. Since the honor here belongs to the outer side, that position is assigned to the right. Nor has it been transmitted that, because circumambulation is intended in its own right, the right side should be placed nearer the House. Rather, honoring the right side here means keeping it on the outside. Likewise, using the left hand to expel water from the nose honors and safeguards the right hand. The same applies to using the siwāk.

Further, if it is said that using the siwāk is fundamentally a means of removing offensive matter, and if it is said that it is prescribed, and that switching from the right hand to the left in performing it better honors the right hand even apart from that, this does not preclude removing offensive matter from being an established and intended purpose of it. This is comparable to cleansing oneself with three stones according to those who require it, such as al-Shāfiʿī and Ahmad: they require the third stone even when cleanliness has already been achieved with fewer. The same applies to washing impurities three or seven times wherever this is obligatory: those who require it prescribe it even when the impurity has already been removed with fewer washings. Likewise, washing each limb three times during ablution is recommended even if the limb becomes clean with fewer washings. Yet there is no doubt that removing impurity is an intended purpose of cleansing oneself with water or stones after relieving oneself.