❖ Is Tayammum Permissible Due to Extreme Cold and Risk of Illness?
Source: Fatawa Ameenpuri by Shaykh Ghulam Mustafa Zaheer Ameenpuri
❖ Question:
If the water is extremely cold and there is a risk of illness, can one perform tayammum instead of wudū or ghusl?
❖ Answer:
Yes, if:
① The water is too cold,
② Performing wudū or ghusl is not possible without serious risk to health,
③ And hot water is not available,
then tayammum is permissible in place of both wudū and ghusl.
❖ Prophetic Incident as Proof:
❀ ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿAbbās رضي الله عنهما reported:
“A man became junub (in a state of major impurity) during a winter night. He asked (for a ruling), and was told to perform ghusl. He did so and died.
When the Prophet ﷺ was informed, he said:
‘They killed him — may Allah destroy them!’ (He said this thrice.)
‘Indeed, Allah has made earth (i.e., tayammum) a source of purification for you.’”
(Musnad Aḥmad: 1/380; Sunan Ibn Mājah: 572; Sunan al-Dāraquṭnī: 1/190 — Chain: ḥasan)
✅ This ḥadīth was declared ṣaḥīḥ (authentic) by:
- Imām Ibn al-Jārūd (128)
- Imām Ibn Khuzaymah (273)
- Imām Ibn Ḥibbān (1314)
- Imām al-Ḥākim (1/165)
- And supported by Ḥāfiẓ al-Dhahabī رحمهما الله
❖ Scholarly Consensus:
❀ Shaykh al-Islām Ibn Taymiyyah رحمه الله said:
“إن التيمم بخشية البرد جائز باتفاق الأئمة.”
“Tayammum due to fear of cold is permissible by consensus of the Imams.”
(Al-Fatāwā al-Kubrā: 1/472)
✔ Summary:
✅ Tayammum is allowed when using cold water may cause harm or illness,
✅ No hot water should be available,
✅ This applies to both wudū and ghusl,
✅ Backed by authentic hadith and scholarly consensus.
