Hadith Q264

وَإِنْ كَانَ التُّرَابُ عَلَى بِسَاطٍ أَوْ ثَوْبٍ وَإِنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ عَلَى الْأَرْضِ مَعَ الدَّلِيلِ عَلَى أَنَّ خَبَرَ أَبِي مُعَاوِيَةَ الَّذِي ذَكَرْنَاهُ مُخْتَصَرٌ ‏"‏ جُعِلَتْ لَنَا الْأَرْضُ طَهُورًا ‏"‏ أَيْ عِنْدَ الْإِعْوَازِ مِنَ الْمَاءِ إِذَا كَانَ الْمُحْدِثُ غَيْرَ مَرِيضٍ مَرَضًا يَخَافُ- إِنْ مَاسَّ الْمَاءَ- التَّلَفَ أَوِ الْمَرَضَ الْمُخَوِّفَ أَوِ الْأَلَمَ الشَّدِيدَ، لَا أَنَّهُ جَعَلَ الْأَرْضَ طَهُورًا، وَإِنْ كَانَ الْمُحْدِثُ صَحِيحًا وَاجِدًا لِلْمَاءِ، أَوْ مَرِيضًا لَا يَضُرُّ إِمْسَاسَ الْبَدَنِ الْمَاءُ‏.‏
Even if the dust is on a mat or cloth, and even if it is not on the ground, with the evidence that the hadith of Sayyiduna Abu Muawiyah (may Allah be pleased with him) which we have narrated is concise. « جعلت لنا الأرض طهورا » "The earth has been made a purifier for us," meaning in the case of scarcity or unavailability of water, while the person is not such a patient who fears death, worsening of illness, or severe pain due to the use of water (i.e., a healthy person can perform tayammum in the absence of water). This does not mean that the earth has been made a purifier for us even if the person is healthy, has water with him, or is not such a patient who has any fear from applying water to his body (so that he can also perform tayammum).
Hadith Reference صحيح ابن خزيمه / جماع أبواب التيمم عند الإعواز من الماء فى السفر، / Q264