1. Tayammum literally means “Intending”, but in Islamic Shariah the words refers to intending or looking to find soil to wipe one’s hands and face so as to be prepared for Salah and other acts requiring Wudhu or Ghusl

[4:43]O you who believe! Do not go near Salāh when you are intoxicated, until you know what you say, nor in a state of ‗major impurity‘., __save when you are traversing a way__until you take a bath. If you are sick, or in travel, or if one of you has come after relieving himself, or you have had contact with women, and you find no water, go for some clean dust and wipe your faces and hands (with it). Surely, Allah is Most-Pardoning, Most-Forgiving.

Abu Dhar (RA) reported that the Prophet (ﷺ) said, “The soil is a purifier for a Muslim, even if he does not find water for ten years.” [Tirmidhi]

Abu Umamah (RA) related that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, “All of earth has been made for me and my people a place of Salah and purifier.” [Ahmed]

There is a consensus on the legitimacy of Tayammum. [Al-Kasani]

2. Tayammum is a special blessing of Allah (SWT) on the Ummah of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ).

Narrated Jabir bin 'Abdullah (RA): Allah's Apostle (ﷺ) said, "I have been given five things which were not given to any amongst the Prophets before me. These are:

1. Allah made me victorious by awe (by His frightening my enemies) for a distance of one month's journey.

2. The earth has been made for me (and for my followers) a place for praying and a thing to perform Tayammum. Therefore my followers can pray wherever the time of a prayer is due.

3. The booty has been made Halal (lawful) for me (and was not made so for anyone else).

4. Every Prophet used to be sent to his nation exclusively but I have been sent 1o all mankind.

5. I have been given the right of intercession (on the Day of Resurrection.) [Bukhari]

3. In the Madhab of Imam Abu Haneefa (RA), Tayammum is permitted in the following circumstances:

a) When water is not available (*)

b) When one lacks the means to get the water

c) When there is a danger lurking between him/her and the water e.g. a beast or human

d) When one is a prisoner under harsh conditions

e) When the quantity of water is only sufficient to meet the basic necessities e.g. drinking, cooking, or water for the animal

f) When one is ill or feels that using water will aggravate the illness

g) When one is in a state of Janabah (sexual impurity) and fears that one will die from cold or become ill if Ghusl is made with water (provided that one has no means to heat the water or use public bathrooms). Tayammum is a substitute for Wudhu or Ghusl.

Narrated 'Aisha (RA): (The wife of the Prophet) We set out with Allah’s Apostle (ﷺ) on one of his journeys till we reached Al-Baida' or Dhatul-Jaish, a necklace of mine was broken (and lost). Allah's Apostle (ﷺ) stayed there to search for it, and so did the people along with him. There was no water at that place, so the people went to Abu- Bakr As-Siddiq (RA) and said, "Don't you see what 'Aisha (RA) has done? She (RA) has made Allah's Apostle (ﷺ) and the people stay where there is no water and they have no water with them." Abu Bakr (RA) came while Allah's Apostle (ﷺ) was sleeping with his head on my thigh, He (RA) said, to me (RA) : "You have detained Allah's Apostle (ﷺ) and the people where there is no water and they have no water with them.

So he (RA) admonished me (RA) and said what Allah wished him to say and hit me on my flank with his hand. Nothing prevented me (RA) from moving (because of pain) but the position of Allah's Apostle (ﷺ) on my thigh. Allah's Apostle (ﷺ) got up when dawn broke and there was no water. So Allah revealed the Divine Verses of Tayammum. So they all performed Tayammum. Usaid bin Hudair (RA) said, "O the family of Abu Bakr! This is not the first blessing of yours." Then the camel on which I was riding was caused to move from its place and the necklace was found beneath it. [Bukhari]

Narrated 'Imran bin Husain Al-Khuza'I (RA): Allah's Apostle (ﷺ) saw a person sitting aloof and not praying with the people. He (ﷺ) asked him, "O so and so! What prevented you from offering the prayer with the people?" He replied, "O Allah's Apostle (ﷺ)! I am Junub and there is no water." The Prophet said, "Perform Tayammum with clean earth and that will be sufficient for you." [Bukhari]

Said Ibn Jubayar (RA) narrated from Ibn Abbas (RA) saying, “It is allowed for an ill person to do Tayammum with the soil”. [Darqutni]

Jabir (RA) said: We set out on a journey. One of our people was hurt by a stone which injured his head. He then had a wet dream. He asked his companions, “Do you find concession for me to do Tayammum?” They said, “We do not find any concession for you while you can use water.” He did Ghusl and died because of it. We then went to Rasul-ullah (ﷺ) and the incident was reported to him. He (ﷺ) said, “They killed him, may Allah (SWT) kill them. Why did they not ask about what they do not know? The cure for ignorance is to ask. It would have been enough for him to do Tayammum and wrap his wound, then to wipe it and wash the rest of the body.” [Abu Dawud]

Amr Ibn Al-Aas (RA) said: I had a wet dream on a cold night in the battle of Dhat Al-Salasil. I was afraid if I did Ghusl I would die, I therefore did Tayammum and led the Fajr Salah with my companions. They mentioned this to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and He (ﷺ) said, “Amr, you led your companions in Salah while in the state of Janabah?” I informed him of the cause which impeded me from Ghusl and I said, “I heard Allah (SWT) say, “Do not kill yourself. Indeed, Allah has been Very-Merciful to you (4:29).” the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) just smiled and did not say anything. [Abu Dawud]
Imam Ahmed (RA) says, “Many amongst the Sahaba (RA) did Tayammum and kept the water for drinking and there is no disagreement amongst scholars in this matter”. [Al-Mughni]

If the water is available but there is danger to one’s life or property in getting to it or there is a danger that one will be separated from his companions, or that one will be ambushed by enemy while getting the water, or there is nothing to draw the water from the well then all of these conditions will make Tayammum permissible and there is no disagreement amongst scholars in this matter. [Al-Mughni]

Note: Scholars in the Hanafi Madhab have stipulated that the distance of water not being available is roughly 1 mile.

4. Person considering Tayammum does not have to search for water if he/she does not think in all likelihood that there is no water in the vicinity. However if he/she does think that there is a likelihood that there water may be found then Tayammum will not be permissible (on account on lack of availability of water) until he/she has searched for it.

Note: Scholars in the Hanafi Madhab have stipulated that the distance of water not being available is roughly 1 mile.

5. If a traveller forgets that he/she had water in their belongings and does Tayammum and performs Salah then according to Imam Abu Haneefa (RA) and Imam Muhammad (RA) he/she does not need to repeat the Salah but according to Imam Abu Yusuf (RA) Salah needs to be repeated.

Note: Scholars in the Hanafi Madhab have stipulated that the distance of water not being available is roughly 1 mile.

6. Tayammum is only permitted with clean earth (*).

[5:6] O you who believe, when you rise for Salāh, (prayer) wash your faces and your hands up to the elbows, and make MasH (wiping by hands) of your heads and (wash) your feet up to the ankles. If you are in a state of major impurity, cleanse yourselves well (by taking bath). If you are sick, or on a journey, or if one of you has come after relieving himself, or you have had sexual contact with women, and you find no water, then, go for some clean dust and wipe your faces and hands with it. Allah does not like to impose a problem on you; He, rather likes to cleanse you and to complete His favour upon you, so that you may be grateful.

Sa’id in this verse is understood to mean whatever covers the earth’s surface and is of the same genus as dust, stone etc.

Note: Imam Abu Haneefa (RA) and Imam Muhammad (RA) allow Tayammum with dust (Turab), sand, pebbles, lime, Kohl antimony, arsenic and stone while Imam Abu Yusuf (RA) allows it with dust, earth and sand. A list of items on which Tayammum is permissible in the Hanafi Madhab is given in Ta’leemul-Haq as:

a) Clean Earth

b) Sand

c) Stone

d) Limestone

e) Baked Earthen Pots (unglazed)

f) Walls of mud, stone or brick

g) Clay

h) All items with think dust on them

7. Bismillah should be recited and then Intention must be made before Tayammum e.g. “I am making Tayammum for Wudhu (or Ghusl).” There is no disagreement amongst scholars on this matter.

Rasul-ullah (ﷺ) has said, “Every action is based on Intention, and everyone shall have what he intended”. [Bukhari]

Note: Intention doesn’t need to be uttered verbally or loudly, it is an action of the heart.

8. After intention strike both hands on the clean earth, dust the hands, then blow the excess dirt off the hands and then rub the hands on the face completely (without leaving any space). Then strike both hands on the clean earth, dust the hands, then blow the excess dirt off the hands and then rub the right hand completely over the left hand including the elbow and then rub the left hand completely over the right hand including the elbow.

Narrated 'Abdur Rahman bin Abza (RA): 'Ammar (RA) said to 'Umar (RA) "I rolled myself in the dust and came to the Prophet (ﷺ) who said, 'Passing dusted hands over the face and the backs of the hands is sufficient for you.' " [Bukhari]

Narrated 'Ammar (RA): The Prophet (ﷺ) stroked the earth with his hands and then passed them over his face and the backs of his hands (while demonstrating Tayammum).

9. Nullifiers of Tayammum are divided into two categories:

a) General: Everything which nullifies Wudhu will nullify Tayammum

b) Specific: Accessibility of water with ability to avail it while or before Salah will nullify Tayammum; Person in this case must do Wudhu or if during Salah break Salah and do Wudhu and then resume Salah

Narrated 'Imran (RA): Once we were travelling with the Prophet (ﷺ) and we carried on travelling till the last part of the night and then we (halted at a place) and slept (deeply). There is nothing sweeter than sleep for a traveller in the last part of the night. So it was only the heat of the sun that made us to wake up and the first to wake up was so and so, then so and so and then so and so (the narrator 'Auf said that Abu Raja' had told him their names but he had forgotten them) and the fourth person to wake up was 'Umar bin Al-Khattab (RA). And whenever the Prophet (ﷺ) used to sleep, nobody would wake up him till he himself used to get up as we did not know what was happening (being revealed) to him in his sleep. So, 'Umar (RA) got up and saw the condition of the people, and he was a strict man, so he said, "Allahu Akbar" and raised his voice with Takbir, and kept on saying loudly till the Prophet (ﷺ) got up because of it. When he got up, the people informed him about what had happened to them. He (ﷺ) said, "There is no harm (or it will not be harmful). Depart!" So they departed from that place, and after covering some distance the Prophet (ﷺ) stopped and asked for some water to perform the ablution. So he performed the ablution and the call for the prayer was pronounced and he led the people in prayer. After he (ﷺ) finished from the prayer, he saw a man sitting aloof who had not prayed with the people. He (ﷺ) asked, "O so and so! What has prevented you from praying with us?" He replied, "I am Junub and there is no water. " The Prophet s(ﷺ) aid, "Perform Tayammum with (clean) earth and that is sufficient for you."

Then the Prophet (ﷺ) proceeded on and the people complained to him of thirst. Thereupon he got down and called a person (the narrator 'Auf added that Abu Raja' had named him but he had forgotten) and 'Ali (RA) , and ordered them to go and bring water. So they went in search of water and met a woman who was sitting on her camel between two bags of water. They asked, "Where can we find water?" She replied, "I was there (at the place of water) this hour yesterday and my people are behind me." They requested her to accompany them. She asked, "Where?" They said, "To Allah's Apostle (ﷺ)." She said, "Do you mean the man who is called the Sabi, (with a new religion)?" They replied, "Yes, the same person. So come along." They brought her to the Prophet (ﷺ) and narrated the whole story. He (ﷺ) said, "Help her to dismount." The Prophet (ﷺ) asked for a pot, then he (ﷺ) opened the mouths of the bags and poured some water into the pot. Then he (ﷺ) closed the big openings of the bags and opened the small ones and the people were called upon to drink and water their animals. So they all watered their animals and they (too) all quenched their thirst and also gave water to others and last of all the Prophet (ﷺ) gave a pot full of water to the person who was Junub and told him to pour it over his body. The woman was standing and watching all that which they were doing with her water. By Allah, when her water bags were returned the looked like as if they were more full (of water) than they had been before (Miracle of Allah's Apostle) Then the Prophet (ﷺ) ordered us to collect something for her; so dates, flour and Sawiq were collected which amounted to a good meal that was put in a piece of cloth. She was helped to ride on her camel and that cloth full of food-stuff was also placed in front of her and then the Prophet (ﷺ) said to her, "We have not taken your water but Allah has given water to us." She returned home late. Her relatives asked her: "O so and so what has delayed you?" She said, "A strange thing! Two men met me and took me to the man who is called the Sabi' and he did such and such a thing. By Allah, he is either the greatest magician between this and this (gesturing with her index and middle fingers raising them towards the sky indicating the heaven and the earth) or he is Allah's true Apostle."
Afterwards the Muslims used to attack the pagans around her abode but never touched her village. One day she said to her people, "I think that these people leave you purposely. Have you got any inclination to Islam?" They obeyed her and all of them embraced Islam.

Abu 'Abdultah said: The word Saba'a means "The one who has deserted his old religion and embraced a new religion." Abul 'Ailya said, "The Sabis are a sect of people of the Scripture who recite the Book of Psalms.". [Bukhari]

Abu Said Al-Khudri (RA) said that two men went out for a journey. The time for Salah came and as they had no water, they did Tayammum with pure earth and did Salah, then they found water during the time for the same Salah and one of them repeated the Salah while the other didn’t. When they joined the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) , they mentioned this to him and he (ﷺ) said to the one who did not repeat his Salah, “You have acted according to Sunnah and your Salah is sufficient for you” and he (ﷺ) said to the other, “You will get double the reward”. [Abu Dawud]

Compulsory actions of Tayammum (Faraidh):

1.     Making intention

2.     Rub both hands on the face after striking them on the earth

3.     Rub both hands on the arms up to the elbow after striking them on the earth

Permissible items for Tayammum:

1.     Clean (Taahir) earth

2.     Sand

3.     Stone

4.     Limestone

5.     Baked earthen pots (unglazed)

6.     Walls of mud, stone or brick

7.     Clay

8.     All items with thick layer of dust on them

Impermissible items for Tayammum:

1.     Wood

2.     Metal

3.     Glass

4.     Food items

5.     All items which burn and turn into ash, rot or melt