Tayammum for a Junub Person: Ruling When Water Is Unavailable or in Severe Cold

Source: Fatāwā Arkān-e-Islām

When Tayammum Is Permissible​

If a person is in a state of janabah and either:

• Water is completely unavailable, or
• Water is present but its use will cause harm to health (such as in extreme cold),

then tayammum is legislated in Shari‘ah. It is valid and renders the person ritually pure.

Method of Tayammum​

1. Strike both hands on the earth.
2. Wipe the face with both hands.
3. Rub both hands with each other.

This method is prescribed only for purification from ḥadath (ritual impurity requiring wudu or ghusl).

Tayammum Is Not for Removing Physical Impurity​

Tayammum is not valid for removing najāsah (physical impurity).

• If impurity is on the body, clothes, or a place of prayer, it must be washed and cleansed.
• Tayammum replaces wudu or ghusl when water is unavailable or harmful, but it does not remove filth.
• The removal of impurity is not an act of worship in itself but a practical cleaning requirement.

Removal of Impurity by Rain or Other Means​

• If rain or any other source of water washes away impurity from a place or clothing, it becomes pure.
• This is valid even if the person is unaware of the exact moment the impurity was removed.
• However, ritual purification (wudu/ghusl) is an act of worship, so intention is required, as it is done to seek nearness to Allah ﷻ.

والله أعلم بالصواب