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Guidelines for Performing Tayammum (Dry Ablution)
By Shaikh 'Abdullaah bin Saalih Al-'Ubaylaan
Tayammum is done as
a substitution for water. The proof for this is Allaah's saying:
"...and you find no water, then perform Tayammum with good
earth, wiping your faces and hands with it." [Surah Al-Maa'idah: 6] And
also the Prophet's (sallAllaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) saying: "The earth was made a
masjid (place of prayer) and purity for me." [Reported by Al-Bukhaaree and
Muslim]
Tayammum is permitted in two situations:
1. When there is no water to be found
2. When one is not able to use it due to sickness and so on.
Tayammum can be performed for both types of ritual impurities
(hadath):
1. Minor Impurity such as urine and feces, and
2. Major Impurity such as sexual relations or semen excretion.
It is permissible to perform Tayammum with everything that is found on the earth
from its various types, such as sand, dust and other types of earth. Some
scholars say that Tayammum is permissible even if the earth is smooth land and
there is no sand or dust found on it, it is permissible to perform Tayammum on
it.
The evidence for this is what has been reported by Jaabir (radyAllaahu 'anhu)
that the Prophet (sallAllaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) said: "The earth was made a
masjid (place of prayer) and a purity for me. So any man from my ummah (nation)
who has the time for prayer come upon him, then let him pray, for he has his
place of prayer and his purifier with him. So if the prayer time comes upon him
and he is in a land in which there is sand or the prayer time comes upon him and
he is in a smooth surfaced land, then in this situation, he is ordered to
perform Tayammum with this earth." [Reported by Al-Bukhaaree and Muslim]
Such a person can pray what he wishes from the prayers with this Tayammum,
whether the prayer be obligatory or supererogatory. This is because the ruling
that Tayammum takes is the same ruling as water. So whatever nullifies one's
wudoo (ablution), then it also nullifies and renders void one's Tayammum. (Some
scholars are on the opinion that Tayammum is nullified by the expire of the time
of the present salat, i.e. if the Muslim performs Tayammum for Dhuhr salat he
can pray Dhuhr and the supererogatory salat he wills until the time of Asr. Then
he has to perform another Tayammum for Asr.)
However, if water is found (and one has Tayammum), something extra is required.
So if water becomes available it becomes obligatory for this person to make
wudoo (ablution) with it even if his Tayammum hasn't gotten nullified by one of
the factors that cancel out wudoo. This is based on the hadeeth of Abu Hurairah
(radyAllaahu 'anhu) who said: "Allaah's Messenger (sallAllaahu 'alayhi wa sallam)
said: 'The earth serves as the wudoo (ablution) of the Muslim even if he doesn't
find water for ten years. But if he finds water, then he should fear Allaah and
let his skin touch it." However, he does not have to repeat the prayers he
performed while using that Tayammum.
How to Perform Tayammum:
The description of Tayammum, is that one must first make his intention based on
the hadeeth: "Verily, actions are only by intentions." And then he must mention
the name of Allaah (saying Bismillaah). Then he is to strike the earth with his
two hands one time and then wipe the palms together along with the back of each
hand and his face. This is based on the hadeeth of 'Ammaar bin Yaasir in which
occurs: "He (i.e. Allaah's Messenger) struck the earth one time and then wiped
his left palm on his right palm, the back of his hands and his face." [Reported
by Al-Bukhaaree and Muslim]
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