in succession, owing to the lack of sufficient water.” The principles of the Sharia support this. Allah Most High says:

“So fear Allah as much as you are able.”

And the Prophet—peace and blessings be upon him—said:

“When I command you to do something, do as much of it as you can.”

Someone unable to maintain continuity—because water is scarce, has spilled, or has been wrongfully seized from him after he obtained it; because the source or place from which he and others draw water, such as a pipe or well, supplies him with water only at widely separated intervals; or for similar reasons—can fulfill the command only by washing whatever he can with the water available. If he does this and then washes the remaining parts with water he subsequently obtains, he has feared Allah as much as he is able and has fulfilled as much of the command as he can.

This is further clarified by the fact that, if he were entirely unable to wash the required body parts because no water was available, that obligation would be waived, and his duty would instead be tayammum (dry ablution). If he could wash only some of them, three opinions are reported:

One holds that he should perform tayammum alone, so as not to combine a substitute with that for which it substitutes.

Another holds that he should use whatever water he can and perform tayammum for the remaining parts. This is the well-known position in Ahmad’s school and those of others.

A third holds that he should use that water for ritual bathing, but not for ablution, as is reported from Abū Bakr. This rests on the view that continuity is obligatory in ablution but not in ritual bathing.