Source: Fatāwā Shaykh al-Ḥadīth Mubārakpūrī, Vol. 1, p. 180
If a person in a state of illness becomes junub (in a state of major impurity), such as Zayd who becomes junub, and using water is harmful to his health, then in such a case can he perform tayammum and:
✿ Pray inside the masjid?
✿ Recite the Qur’ān?
✿ Lead prayer as an imām?
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu wa-s-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, ammā baʿd!
If an ill person becomes junub, and there is a strong likelihood that performing ghusl will worsen his illness or even endanger his life, then tayammum is valid and permissible.
With such tayammum, it is unquestionably allowed to:
✿ Pray inside the masjid.
✿ Recite the Qur’ān.
✿ Lead prayer as an imām.
This ruling is clearly established from the narration of ʿAmr ibn al-ʿĀṣ (RA):
He said:
“During the expedition of Dhāt al-Salāsil, I had a wet dream on a cold night. I feared that if I bathed, I would perish. So I performed tayammum and led my companions in Ṣalāt al-Ṣubḥ. They mentioned this to the Prophet ﷺ, who asked:
‘O ʿAmr, did you lead your companions in prayer while you were junub?’
I explained what prevented me from bathing, and said: I heard Allah say: {وَلَا تَقْتُلُوا أَنْفُسَكُمْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ كَانَ بِكُمْ رَحِيمًا} [al-Nisāʾ: 29].
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ laughed and said nothing.”
(Abū Dāwūd, Kitāb al-Ṭahārah, Bāb: If a Junub Fears Cold, Should He Perform Tayammum? Ḥadīth 334)
The Prophet ﷺ not objecting, but smiling, indicates the validity of tayammum in such a situation.
It is also established from Ibn ʿAbbās (RA) that he led people in prayer while in a state of tayammum.
(al-Bukhārī, Kitāb al-Tayammum, Bāb al-Ṣaʿīd al-Ṭayyib Wuḍūʾ al-Muslim, Vol. 1, p. 88)
✿ If a sick person becomes junub and using water would harm his health, then tayammum is fully valid.
✿ With this tayammum, ṣalāh, Qur’ān recitation, and imāmah are all permissible.
✿ Sharīʿah has granted this ease, as clarified through the Qur’ān and authentic ḥadīth.
Question:
If a person in a state of illness becomes junub (in a state of major impurity), such as Zayd who becomes junub, and using water is harmful to his health, then in such a case can he perform tayammum and:
✿ Pray inside the masjid?
✿ Recite the Qur’ān?
✿ Lead prayer as an imām?
Answer:
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu wa-s-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, ammā baʿd!
If an ill person becomes junub, and there is a strong likelihood that performing ghusl will worsen his illness or even endanger his life, then tayammum is valid and permissible.
With such tayammum, it is unquestionably allowed to:
✿ Pray inside the masjid.
✿ Recite the Qur’ān.
✿ Lead prayer as an imām.
Evidence from Ḥadīth
This ruling is clearly established from the narration of ʿAmr ibn al-ʿĀṣ (RA):
He said:
“During the expedition of Dhāt al-Salāsil, I had a wet dream on a cold night. I feared that if I bathed, I would perish. So I performed tayammum and led my companions in Ṣalāt al-Ṣubḥ. They mentioned this to the Prophet ﷺ, who asked:
‘O ʿAmr, did you lead your companions in prayer while you were junub?’
I explained what prevented me from bathing, and said: I heard Allah say: {وَلَا تَقْتُلُوا أَنْفُسَكُمْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ كَانَ بِكُمْ رَحِيمًا} [al-Nisāʾ: 29].
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ laughed and said nothing.”
(Abū Dāwūd, Kitāb al-Ṭahārah, Bāb: If a Junub Fears Cold, Should He Perform Tayammum? Ḥadīth 334)
The Prophet ﷺ not objecting, but smiling, indicates the validity of tayammum in such a situation.
Further Example
It is also established from Ibn ʿAbbās (RA) that he led people in prayer while in a state of tayammum.
(al-Bukhārī, Kitāb al-Tayammum, Bāb al-Ṣaʿīd al-Ṭayyib Wuḍūʾ al-Muslim, Vol. 1, p. 88)
Conclusion
✿ If a sick person becomes junub and using water would harm his health, then tayammum is fully valid.
✿ With this tayammum, ṣalāh, Qur’ān recitation, and imāmah are all permissible.
✿ Sharīʿah has granted this ease, as clarified through the Qur’ān and authentic ḥadīth.
