Explanation of the author's statement: "And if one doubts the impurity of water or anything else, or its purity, he should proceed on the basis of certainty"

The Shaykh :"... impurity in water or anything else, or its purity, he should proceed on the basis of certainty" If one doubts the impurity of water or anything other than water, he proceeds on the basis of certainty. How does one doubt its purity or the impurity of water or its purity? How does one doubt its impurity or purity? He doubts its impurity if its original state was pure, and he doubts its purity if its original state was impure. For example, he has pure water and does not know that it became impure. Then he comes and finds something in it. Let us suppose he finds dung and does not know if it is camel dung or donkey dung. The water has changed in color, showing a greenish tint from this dung, but he does not know for sure. He is in doubt about its impurity or purity. He doubts its impurity because he knew it was pure, and this incident occurred, so he wonders if it is impure or pure. We say: proceed on the basis of certainty. What is the certainty? It is purity. So he purifies himself with it, and there is no blame on him. Likewise, if he doubts the impurity of something other than water, such as a garment, and he doubts its impurity, what is the original state? Purity, until he knows it is impure. For instance, he has a sheepskin and doubts whether it is the skin of a ritually slaughtered animal or carrion. The most likely case is that it is the skin of a ritually slaughtered animal, and it cannot be carrion. However, according to the stronger opinion, as will come to us if Allah wills, tanned skin is pure even if it is from carrion. Good. If he doubts about the ground, and he is about to pray on it, he says, "By Allah, I do not know if this spot is pure or impure." What do we say? The original state is purity, so it is pure, and he prays on it. Likewise, if he doubts the purity of water, how does he doubt its purity? He has impure water, and he knows it is impure. When he returns to it, he says, "By Allah, I do not know if the change has ceased or if it remains." He is in doubt. What do we say? The original state is impurity. The original state is the continuation of its impurity, because the original state is impurity. This is why it is said, "he should proceed on the basis of certainty." Certainty is what existed before the doubt. Certainty is what was the case before the doubt. Did you understand? Good. So, if he doubts the impurity of water, it is pure. If he doubts the purity of water that has become impure, it is impure. Good. What is the evidence and what is the reasoning? The evidence for that is the hadith of Abdullah ibn Zayd that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and also from Abu Hurayrah This is clear: the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) ordered proceeding on the basis of the original state, which is the continuation of purity until one hears a sound or finds a smell. Clear. Good. So, if we have this pure water and we doubt whether it has been affected by impurity or not, we say: do not avoid it until we are certain it is impure. And if we have this water that has become impure and we doubt whether its change due to impurity has ceased or not, we say: do not use it until we are certain the impurity has ceased. This is an evidentiary proof, meaning a proof by inference from a report. Also, we have a theoretical proof, reasoning by reflection, which is that the original state is the continuation of a thing. This is the original state: the continuation of what was as it was, until the change becomes clear, the change of the thing. This is a theoretical, rational proof. And based on that, if water from a gutter hits you while you are walking in the market, and you say, "By Allah, I do not know if this is from the toilets or from washing clothes, and if it is from washing clothes, is it from the impure clothes of boys or from the pure clothes of men?" What do we say? The original state is purity. Good. I saw that its color seemed changed. The original state is purity, even if it is changed. They said it is not obligatory for him to smell it or inspect it. It is not obligatory. He proceeds on what was the case and says the original state is purity. And all of this is from the vast mercy of Allah (Mighty and Majestic) so that we do not burden ourselves or make things difficult for ourselves. For this reason, when the Companions said Aisha narrated the hadith, and they were recently converted from disbelief, meaning they were believers here. It is most likely that they did not mention the name of Allah. And yet, the Messenger did not order us to ask or investigate. If we do not ask, it is reported from 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) that he passed by a man with a pool with his companion, and water from it hit them. His companion asked the owner of the pool about it. He said, "Is this impure or not?" 'Umar said to him, "O owner of the pool, do not inform us." In another narration, it was water from a gutter that hit them, and 'Umar said, "O owner of the gutter, do not inform us."