Fiqh-us-Sunnah, Volume 1: Tayammum, the dry ablution

Definition. Literally tayammum means “aim, purpose.” In Islamic law, itrefers to “aiming for or seeking soil to wipe one’s face and hands withthe intention of preparing oneself to pray, and so on.”

Volume 1, Page 63a: Proof of its legitimacy

This is proven by the Qur’an, sunnah and ijma’ (consensus). TheQur’an says, “And if you are ill, or on a journey, or one of you comesfrom relieving himself, or you have touched women, and you do not findwater, then go to high clean soil and rub your face and hands(therewith). Lo, Allah is Benign, Forgiving” (an-Nisa’: 43). From thesunnah we have the hadith related by Abu Umamah in which the Prophet,upon whom be peace, said, “All of the earth has been made for me and mynation a pure place of prayer. Whenever a person from my nation wantsto pray, he has something with which to purify himself, that is, theearth.” (Related by Ahmad.) Finally, there is a consensus that tayammumforms a legitimate part of the shari’ah, as it replaces ablution orghusl under specific circumstances.

Volume 1, Page 63b: Blessing from Allah

This form of ablution is viewed as a blessing from Allah to theMuslims. Jabir relates that the Prophet, upon whom be peace, said, “Ihave been given five things that were not given to anyone before me: Ihave been made victorious due to fear for a distance of one month’sjourney; the earth has been made a place of prayer for me–wherever andwhoever of my nation wants to pray, he may pray; and the war booty hasbeen made lawfal for me, and this was not lawful for anyone before me.I have been given permission to intercede. The prophets used to beraised for their own people only, but I have been raised for all ofmankind.” (Related by al-Bukhari and Muslim.)

Volume 1, Page 64: The reason for its legitimacy

Said ‘Aishah, “We went out with the Messenger of Allah on one of hisjourneys until we reached Baida’. At this place, one of my braceletsbroke and fell somewhere. The Messenger of Allah and others began tolook for it. There was no water at that place, nor did anyone have anywater with him. The people went to Abu Bakr and said, “Do you see whatyour daughter has done?” Abu Bakr came to me, while the Prophet wassleeping on my thigh. He blamed me and said to me whatever Allah willedhim to say. He also poked me in my side. I could not move, for theProphet, upon whom be peace, was sleeping on my lap. He slept until themorning without any water available. Then, Allah revealed the verse oftayammum. As-Sayyid ibn Huzhain said, ‘That was not the first blessingfrom the family of Abu Bakr.’ The camel that I was on got up and wefound the necklace underneath it.” (Related by “the group,” except forat-Tirmizhi.)

Volume 1, Page 64a: One cannot find water, or theamount one finds is insufficient for ablution

‘Imran bin Husain said, “We were with the Messenger of Allah duringa journey. When he led the people in prayer, one man stayed apart. Heasked him, “What prevented you from praying?” He said, ‘I need apost-nocturnal bath and there is no water.’ He said, ‘Use the soil, forit is sufficient.”’ (Related by al-Bukhari and Muslim.)

Abu Zharr related that the Prophet, upon whom be peace, said, “The soilis a purifier for a Muslim, even if he does not find water for twentyyears.” (Related by “the four.” At-Tirmizhi grades it hassan sahih.)But before one makes tayammum, he must look for water from any posiblesource. If he is sure water is not to be found or it is too far away,he does not have to look for it.

Volume 1, Page 64b: One is injured or ill

If one is in this condition, and believes water will worsen it (hedoes not have to be absolutely sure, but may base his opinion on pastexperience or what a knowledgeable person has told him), he may performtayammum. Jabir said, “We were on a journey and one of us got injured.Later, he had a wet dream. He asked his companions, ‘Can I performtayammum?’ They said, ‘No, not if you have water.’ He performed ghusland died. When they came to the Messenger of Allah, they informed himof what had transpired. He said, ‘They killed him, Allah will killthem. Do you not ask if you do not know? The rescue of the ignorantperson is the question. He could have performed tayammum and droppedwater on his wound or wrapped it with something and wipe over thewrapping, and wash the rest of his body.” This is related by Abu Dawud,Ibn Majah, ad-Daraqutni and Ibn as-Sakin, who said it is sahih.

Volume 1, Page 65: If the water is cold enough tophysically harm the user

This is only allowed on the condition that he can find no one toheat it, or is unable to use the public bathrooms. ‘Amr ibn al-‘Aasnarrated that he was participating in an expedition. He had a wet dreamduring an extremely cold night, and was afraid that if he performedghusl he would die. He prayed the morning prayer with his companions.He then went to the Messenger of Allah, upon whom be peace, to ask himabout this. Muhammad said, “O ‘Amr, did you pray with your companionswhile you needed a post-nocturnal bath?” ‘Amr mentioned the verse, “Donot kill yourselves, Allah is merciful to you” to the Prophet. TheProphet just laughed and didn’t say anything. (Related by Ahmad, AbuDawud, al-Hakim, ad-Daraqutni, Ibn Hibban and al-Bukhari in mu’allaqform.) This example illustrated the Prophet’s tacit approval.

Volume 1, Page 65a: When water is nearby, but one doesnot want to fetch it due to fear

If one fears for his life, family, wealth, (for example, if an enemyis nearby–beast or human–or one is a prisoner, and so on), one mayperform tayammum. This is also allowed if there is water but one lacksthe proper means to get it, or if one fears some accusation against himif he gets it.

Volume 1, Page 65b: If one is saving his water forlater use

This could be for a hound, for dough, cooking or to remove animpurity that is not pardonable. Says Imam Ahmad, “Many of thecompanions performed tayammum to save their water for drinking.” ‘Alisaid that a man who is travelling and becomes unclean because of sex ora wet dream can perform tayammum if he fears he will go thirsty: “Heshould perform tayammum and not ghusl.” (Related by ad-Daraqutni.) SaysIbn Taimiyyah, “If a person needs to relieve himself but has only asmall amount of water, it is best that he pray with tayammum andrelieve himself, rather than keep his ablution and pray beforerelieving himself.”

Volume 1, Page 66: One can get water, but fears that theprayer will be over by the time he gets it

He can perform tayammum and pray, and does not need to repeat hisprayer (after he gets water).

Volume 1, Page 66a: The soil used for tayammum

It must be pure soil: this can be sand, stone, gypsum, and so on.Says Allah, “Perform tyammum with pure soil,” and all scholars ofArabic agree that “soil” is whatever covers the earth, dirt orotherwise.

Volume 1, Page 66b: How to perform tayammum

First, one must have the intention (see the section on ablution).Then, he mentions Allah’s name, strikes the soil with his hands, wipeshis face and his hands up to the wrist. Nothing is more authentic andclear than what ‘Ammar related. He said, “We became sexually impure andhad no water, so we rolled in the dirt and prayed. This was mentionedto the Prophet and he said, ‘This would have been enough for you,’ andhe struck the earth with his hands, blew in them and then wiped hisface and hands with them.” (Related by al-Bukhari and Muslim). Inanother text he states, “It would have been enough for you to strikethe ground with your hands, blow into them, then wipe your face andhands up to the elbows.” (Related by ad-Daraqutni.)

This hadith shows that one strike of the earth is sufficient, and oneonly wipes the arms to the wrists. It is from the sunnah that one whomakes tayammum with dirt should blow into his hands first and not makehis face dusty or dirty.

Volume 1, Page 66c: What tayammum makes permissible

After doing so, he is pure and may do any of the acts requiringprior purification, such as praying and touching the Qur’an. He doesnot have to perform it during the time of prayer, and he may pray asmany prayers as he wishes (unless he nullifies it), exactly as he canafter performing the regular ablution. Abu Zharr reported that theProphet said, “The soil is a purifier for a Muslim, even if he does notfind water for twenty years. Then if he touches water, that is, to makeablution, and so on, it would be good.” This is related by Ahmad andat-Tirmizhi, who said it is sahih.

Volume 1, Page 66d: What nullifies tayammum

In addition to the presence of water, everything that nullifies theablution nullifies tayammum. If a person prays after performingtayammum and then finds water, he does not need to repeat his prayereven if there is time left to do so. Abu Sa’eed al-Khudri said, “Twomen went out on a journey. The time of prayer came and, as they had nowater, they performed tayammum. Then they found some water during thetime of the same prayer. One of them repeated his prayer with ablutionand the other did not. When they saw the Messenger of Allah, they askedhim about the proper procedure in such a case. He said to the one whodid not repeat his prayer, ‘You have acted according to the sunnah andyour prayer is sufficient for you.’ He said to the other, ‘You will geta double reward.”‘ (Related by Abu Dawud and anNasa’i.) If one comesacross water before he prays or finishes his prayer with tayammum, hisprayer becomes null and void, for he must make ablution with water. Ifa person is not clean because of sex or a wet dream, or a woman ismenstruating, and they pray after performing tayammum, they need notrepeat their prayer after finding water, but they must perform ghuslwith water when they can. ‘Umar said, “The Prophet led the people inprayer, and afterwards saw a man who had not prayed. He said, ‘Whydidn’t you pray with us?’ The man replied, ‘I was sexually unclean andthere was no water.’ He told him, ‘Use the soil, and it will beenough.’ ‘Imran then mentioned that they later found water. TheProphet, upon whom be peace, brought a bowl of water for the man andtold him to perform ghusl. (Related by al-Bukhari.)

Volume 1, Page 67: Wiping Over Casts, Wrappers andSimilar Items

It is allowable to wipe over any wrapper or diseased or injuredbodily part. There are many hadith on this point, and although they areall weak, their many chains strengthen each other, making them valid totalk about. One hadith, that of Jabir (quoted earlier), relates a storyabout a man who was on a journey and suffered an injury. While heslept, he had a wet dream, after which he asked his companions if hecould perform tayammum. They said he could not, so he made ghusl anddied because of it. When that was mentioned to the Prophet, he said”They killed him, may Allah kill them. Do you not ask about what you donot know? … It would have been enough for him to perform tayammum anddrop a little water over his wound or else wipe it, then to wipe it andwash the rest of the body.” This is related by Abu Dawud, Ibn Majah,ad-Daraqutni and Ibn as-Sakin, who classified it as sahih. Ibn ‘Umarused to do this.

In fact, it is obligatory to wipe over such casts or wrappers inablution or ghusl instead of washing the injured parts. This must bedone even if he has to heat the water. But, if he believes that thiswould harm the diseased or injured part, or that his condition mayworsen, or that his pain would increase, he may wipe the injured partwith water. If he fears that this would also be harmful, he should wrapit and then gently wipe over it. It is not necessary for him to be in astate of purity while applying the cast or wrapper to be wiped. Thereis also no time limit for such wipings, for he can do so as long as hiscondition lasts. Removing the wrapper or cast nullifies the wiping, asdoes the final cure.

Volume 1, Page 68: The Prayer of One Who Has no Means ofPurifying Himself

Whoever cannot get water or soil may pray in whatever state he isin, and he will not have to repeat his prayer later. This is based onwhat Muslim related from ‘Aishah. She had borrowed some jewelry from’Asma and it broke (and fell). The Messenger of Allah, upon whom bepeace, sent some people to search for it. The prayer time came and theyhad to pray without ablution. When they came to the Prophet, theycomplained to him and the verses of tayammum were revealed. Usaid ibnHuzhair said, “May Allah give you good recompense. Allah never revealsan order with respect to you except that He removes by it some hardshipand gives the Muslims some benefit.” The companions prayed while in astate of impurity, but the Prophet did not admonish them nor did heorder them to repeat their prayers. Says an-Nawawi, “That is thestrongest statement of proof (on this question).”