the truth; for if dry ablution is permitted after defecation, which occurs voluntarily, it is all the more permissible when ritual impurity is minor and involuntary.

It thus becomes clear that the meaning of the verse is:

“If you are ill or on a journey, perform dry ablution, even if, in addition, one of you has returned from relieving himself or you have had intercourse with women.”

This is like saying: “Even if you are ill or travelling.” The underlying wording is:

“And if you who rise for prayer—while ill or travelling—have returned from relieving yourselves or have had intercourse with women…”

This is why those who said that the verse addresses people rising from sleep explained its underlying wording as follows:

“When you rise for prayer, or one of you has returned from relieving himself, or you have had intercourse with women.”

For He, glorified be He, first mentions their actions in His words:

“When you rise,”

and:

“Or one of you has returned from relieving himself, or you have had intercourse with women”—

three actions in all. His words:

“And if you are ill or on a journey,”

describe their circumstances; that is, if they are in this condition. It is as though He were saying:

“If you are unable to use water—either because it is unavailable or because you fear harm from using it—then perform dry ablution when you rise from sleep for prayer, or one of you has returned from relieving himself, or you have had intercourse with women.”

However, the view we have preferred is that His words, “When you rise,” are general in scope: either in both wording and meaning, or in meaning alone.