❖ 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.