Tayammum in Islam: Rulings and Method from Qur’an and Sunnah

Jurisprudential Rulings and Issues in the Light of the Qur’an and Hadith
Volume 01 – Page 62

Question​

السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته

Rulings of Tayammum

Answer​

وعليكم السلام ورحمة الله وبركاته!
الحمد لله، والصلاة والسلام علىٰ رسول الله، أما بعد!

Allah Almighty has commanded purification through pure water from both minor and major impurities for the correct performance of prayer, and this command is obligatory as far as possible. However, at times situations arise in which water is genuinely unavailable, or water is available but cannot be used due to a valid Sharʿī excuse. In such circumstances, Allah Almighty has legislated Tayammum as a substitute for ablution, so that ease may be provided to the servants and they may be protected from hardship and difficulty.

The Legitimacy of Tayammum from the Qur’an​

Allah Almighty says:

﴿يـٰأَيُّهَا الَّذينَ ءامَنوا إِذا قُمتُم إِلَى الصَّلو‌ٰةِ فَاغسِلوا وُجوهَكُم وَأَيدِيَكُم إِلَى المَرافِقِ وَامسَحوا بِرُءوسِكُم وَأَرجُلَكُم إِلَى الكَعبَينِ وَإِن كُنتُم جُنُبًا فَاطَّهَّروا وَإِن كُنتُم مَرضىٰ أَو عَلىٰ سَفَرٍ أَو جاءَ أَحَدٌ مِنكُم مِنَ الغائِطِ أَو لـٰمَستُمُ النِّساءَ فَلَم تَجِدوا ماءً فَتَيَمَّموا صَعيدًا طَيِّبًا فَامسَحوا بِوُجوهِكُم وَأَيديكُم مِنهُ ما يُريدُ اللَّهُ لِيَجعَلَ عَلَيكُم مِن حَرَجٍ وَلـٰكِن يُريدُ لِيُطَهِّرَكُم وَلِيُتِمَّ نِعمَتَهُ عَلَيكُم لَعَلَّكُم تَشكُرونَ ﴿٦﴾﴾

Reference: Al-Mā’idah: 5/6

Translation:
O you who believe! When you rise for prayer, wash your faces and your hands up to the elbows, wipe your heads, and wash your feet up to the ankles. And if you are in a state of major impurity, then purify yourselves (by bathing). But if you are ill, or on a journey, or one of you comes after relieving himself, or you have touched women and you do not find water, then perform Tayammum with clean earth and wipe over your faces and hands with it. Allah does not intend to place hardship upon you, but He intends to purify you and to complete His favor upon you so that you may be grateful.

① Definition of Tayammum​

◈ Lexical meaning: Intention and resolve
◈ Technical meaning: Wiping the face and hands in a prescribed manner using pure earth

② Legal Status of Tayammum​

✔ Tayammum is established by the Qur’an, the Sunnah of the Messenger ﷺ, and the consensus of the Ummah.
✔ Tayammum is a special distinction and unique gift granted to the Ummah of Muhammad ﷺ, which was not given to any previous nation.
✔ It is a manifestation of ease and mercy from Allah Almighty.

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:

"أُعْطِيتُ خَمْسًا لَمْ يُعْطَهُنَّ أَحَدٌ قَبْلِي: نُصِرْتُ بِالرُّعْبِ مَسِيرَةَ شَهْرٍ، وَجُعِلَتْ لِي الأَرْضُ مَسْجِدًا وَطَهُورًا، فَأَيُّمَا رَجُلٍ مِنْ أُمَّتِي أَدْرَكَتْهُ الصَّلاَةُ فَلْيُصَلِّ"

Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 335; Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 521

Translation:
“I have been granted five things which were not granted to anyone before me: I was aided with awe for a distance of one month’s journey, and the entire earth has been made a mosque and a means of purification for me. So whichever man of my Ummah the time of prayer reaches, let him pray.”

In the wording of Musnad Aḥmad:

"فعنده مسجده وعنده طَهُوره"

Reference: Musnad Aḥmad: 5/248

Translation:
“So there is his mosque and there is his means of purification.”

He ﷺ also said:

"وَجُعِلَتْ تُرْبَتُهَا لَنَا طَهُورًا"

Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 522

Translation:
“And its earth has been made a means of purification for us.”

In the presence of a valid Sharʿī excuse, Tayammum serves as a substitute for ablution; therefore, all acts permissible with ablution are also permissible with Tayammum, such as prayer, ṭawāf, and recitation of the Qur’an.

③ Situations in Which Tayammum Is Prescribed​

❀ When water is not available

Reference: Al-Mā’idah: 5/6

❀ When water is available but is needed only for drinking or cooking, and using it for ablution may result in the loss of life or livestock

❀ When there is fear that using water may cause illness or worsen it

Reference: Al-Mā’idah: 5/6

❀ Due to old age or illness, one is unable to use water and no one is available to assist with ablution, and there is fear that the prayer time will expire

❀ When water is extremely cold, no means of heating it is available, and there is a strong likelihood of harm if used

Reference: An-Nisā’: 4/29

④ When Only a Small Amount of Water Is Available​

If only enough water is available to wash some of the limbs of ablution, then whatever is possible should be washed with water, and Tayammum should be performed for the remaining parts.

Reference: At-Taghābun: 64/16

⑤ Ruling in the Case of a Wound​

◈ If washing or wiping over a wound is feared to cause harm, then Tayammum should be performed for that part while the rest of the limbs are washed.

Reference: An-Nisā’: 4/29

◈ If wiping over the wound does not cause harm, then wiping alone is sufficient and Tayammum is not required.

⑥ Types of Earth Permissible for Tayammum​

Clean soil, sandy land, or saline land—all are valid for Tayammum, because Allah Almighty used the general term Ṣaʿīd ṭayyib (pure earth). The Companions رضي الله عنهم did not make special arrangements for specific soil during travel; rather, wherever the time of prayer arrived, they would perform Tayammum from the ground available.

The Sunnah Method of Tayammum​

✔ Make the intention and say Bismillah
✔ Strike both hands once on the earth with fingers spread
✔ Wipe the entire face with the palms
✔ Then wipe the backs of the hands

If a person strikes the earth twice—once for the face and once for the hands—this is also permissible.

Reference: Sunan Abī Dāwūd: 335, 342

However, the one-strike method is established with a more authentic chain from the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, and this is more virtuous.

Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 338, 339

⑦ Matters That Nullify Tayammum​

◈ Anything that nullifies ablution also nullifies Tayammum
◈ Major ritual impurity (janābah, menstruation, postnatal bleeding) nullifies Tayammum
◈ Finding water or the removal of the Sharʿī excuse also nullifies Tayammum

⑧ When Neither Water Nor Earth Is Available​

If neither water nor earth is available, or due to illness one is unable to perform either ablution or Tayammum, then prayer should be performed without ablution or Tayammum. Repeating the prayer later is not obligatory, because the person has fulfilled the command according to his ability.

Allah Almighty says:

﴿فَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ مَا استَطَعتُم﴾

Reference: At-Taghābun: 64/16

Translation:
So fear Allah as much as you are able.

And the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:

"وَإِذَا أَمَرْتُكُمْ بِأَمْرٍ فَأْتُوا مِنْهُ مَا اسْتَطَعْتُمْ"

Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 7288; Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 1337; Musnad Aḥmad: 2/258

Translation:
“And when I command you to do something, then do of it as much as you are able.”

Advice​

My brother! These were some important issues related to Tayammum. If there is further ambiguity in any matter, refer to the people of knowledge. Do not be negligent in your religious affairs, especially regarding prayer, for prayer is the pillar of the religion and a most important obligation.

May Allah Almighty keep us firm upon the truth in word and deed, and accept all our actions purely for His pleasure. Indeed, He is the All-Hearing, the One Who accepts.