❖ Scope of Tayammum: For Obligatory Prayers, Voluntary Prayers, and Touching the Mushaf
Source: Fatawa Amun Puri by Shaykh Ghulam Mustafa Zaheer Amun Puri
❀ Question:
Some say that tayammum can only be performed for obligatory prayers, and not for voluntary prayers or for touching the mushaf. What do you say about this?
❀ Answer:
When water is not available, or its use is not possible, tayammum is legislated and permissible. Tayammum is a substitute for both wudu and ghusl. It can be performed for everything for which wudu or ghusl is required. Thus, tayammum is valid for both obligatory and voluntary prayers. Whoever denies this opposes the Sunnah and consensus of the Ummah.
❀ Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah رحمه الله (d. 728H) said:
إن هذا خلاف السنة وخلاف إجماع المسلمين بل يتيمم للواجب ويتيمم للمستحب كصلاة التطوع وقراءة القرآن المستحبة ومس المصحف المستحب، والله قد جعله طهورا للمسلمين عند عدم الماء فلا يجوز لأحد أن يضيق على المسلمين ما وسع الله عليهم وقد أراد رفع الحرج عن الأمة فليس لأحد أن يجعل فيه حرجا، كما فعله طائفة من الناس
“This (view that tayammum is only for obligations) is contrary to the Sunnah and to the consensus of the Muslims. Rather, tayammum can be performed for what is obligatory as well as for what is recommended—such as voluntary prayers, recommended recitation of the Qur’an, and touching the mushaf in recommended circumstances. Allah has made tayammum a source of purification for Muslims when water is unavailable. Therefore, it is not permissible for anyone to restrict what Allah has made wide for the Muslims. Allah intended to remove hardship from the Ummah, so it is not for anyone to impose hardship in this matter, as some groups have done.”
(Majmu‘ al-Fatawa, 21/439)
