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He, glorified be He, has commanded us to perform both minor and major ritual purification, and dry ablution in place of either. He says:

“When you rise for prayer, wash.”

Thus He commanded ablution. He then says:

“If you are in a state of major ritual impurity, purify yourselves.”

Thus He commanded purification from major ritual impurity, just as He said concerning menstruation:

“Do not approach them until they become pure. Then, when they have purified themselves, approach them as Allah has commanded you.”

And He says in Sūrat al-Nisāʾ:

“Nor while in a state of major ritual impurity—except when passing through—until you have bathed.”

This makes clear that purification here means bathing. The Quran indicates that a person in a state of major ritual impurity is required only to bathe, and that once he has bathed, he may approach prayer. Someone bathing to remove major ritual impurity need not also intend to remove minor ritual impurity, as the majority of scholars hold.

The well-known position in Ahmad’s school, however, is that he must intend to remove minor ritual impurity. Likewise, according to the majority, he need not perform ablution, observe the prescribed order, or maintain continuity in washing. This is also the apparent position of Ahmad’s school.

It has also been said that minor ritual impurity is not removed without observing both order and continuity. Another view is that it is not removed until he performs ablution. This has been reported from Ahmad.