Tayammum

The tayammum is a purification that takes the place of wudoo´ and ghusl due to a lack of water or other factors which may prevent its use. Tayammum makes permissible for us the same acts as does wudoo´ and ghusl, such as Prayer, touching the Qur`an, and the like. Allah says:

“And if you are ill, or on a journey, or one of you comes after answering the call of nature, or you have had contact (sexual intercourse) with women, and you find no water, then perform tayammum with clean earth and wipe over your  faces and hands [with it]. Truly, Allah is Oft-pardoning, Oft-forgiving.” 

[Surah an-Nisa´ (4):43]

It is also something specific to the nation of Muhammad (Peace be upon him).

The Prophet (Peace be upon him) said:

“I have been favored over the other prophets with six things: I have been given ‘inclusive speech’, I have been given victory through fear, war-booty has been made permissible for me, the earth has been made pure for me and a place of prayer, I have been granted all good morals and manners, and I am the seal of the Prophets (the final Prophet).” [Reported by Muslim]

Factors that Make Tayammum Permissible 

If one cannot find water. Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) said:

“…then perform tayammum with clean earth.”  [Surah an-Nisa´ (4):43]

 ‘Imran ibn al-Hussain narrated: 

“Allah’s Messenger (Peace be upon him) saw a man sitting alone not performing the Prayer in congregation. He asked him, ‘O so-and-so, what has prevented you from praying in congregation?’ He replied, ‘I am junub and I have no water.’ The Prophet (Peace be upon him) said: ‘You must use the earth [and perform tayammum], for it is sufficient.” (Reported by al-Bukhari)  

In case water is harmful to the body, for example, if one is wounded or ill and fears that using water will delay healing or increase the illness. Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) said:

“And if you are ill, or on a journey, or one of you comes after answering the call of nature, or you have had contact (sexual intercourse) with women and you find no water, then perform tayammum with clean earth…” 

[Surah an-Nisa´ (4):43]

Also, Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him) said:                                            

“We set out on a journey, and one of us was wounded by a stone on his head. [When he slept,] he had a wet dream, and so he asked his companions, ‘Do you see any concession for me to perform tayammum?’”

They replied:

‘We do not see any concession since you are able to use water.’ Upon that, he took bath and died. When we came back to Allah’s Messenger (Peace be upon him), he was informed of that.

He said: “They killed him! May Allah kill them! Why didn’t they ask if they didn’t know? Indeed the only cure for ignorance is to ask. It would have been enough for him to perform tayammum, or bandage his wound, wipe over the bandage and bathe the rest of his body.” (Reported by Abu Dawud)

If a person has water, but he needs it, in the present time or the near future for drinking, cooking, or giving drink to others. In other words, if it will cause harm to him or others if it is used for purification, he should perform tayammum and save the water for drinking. When ‘Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) was asked about a person who becomes junub while on a journey and has little water and fears that he would become thirsty if he performed ghusl with it, he replied:

“He should perform tayammum and not ghusl.”

If the search for water will risk his life; honor or wealth, for example, if there were an enemy or if that would expose him to the danger of wild animals.                                            

In case the weather is extremely cold and he is not able to heat the water, being almost sure that the use of cold water will cause him harm. ‘Amr ibn al-‘Aas (may Allah be pleased with him) said: 

“I had a wet dream in a very cold night during the expedition of Dhat as-Salasil. I was afraid to risk my life if I took a bath, so I performed tayammum and led my companions in Prayer. They told the Prophet (Peace be upon him) about the incident, upon which he called me and asked, ‘O ‘Amr! Did you lead your companions in Prayer while you were in state of janabah?’ I told him what prevented me from taking a bath, saying, “I heard Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) say: 

“Do not kill yourselves. Verily Allah is All-Merciful towards you.”  [Surah an-Nisa´(4):29]

Allah’s Messenger (Peace be upon him) laughed and did not comment upon that.” (Reported by Mustadrak al- Hakim)

The Prophet’s (Peace be upon him) silence upon an issue is a sign of its approval, for he would never approve or keep silent upon something which is impermissible.