The command of Tayammum in the Shariʿah

Allah said in the Holy Quran:

{وَإِنْ كُنْتُمْ مَرْضَى أَوْ عَلَى سَفَرٍ أَوْ جَاءَ أَحَدٌ مِنْكُمْ مِنَ الْغَائِطِ أَوْ لَامَسْتُمُ النِّسَاءَ فَلَمْ تَجِدُوا مَاءً فَتَيَمَّمُوا صَعِيدًا طَيِّبًا فَامْسَحُوا بِوُجُوهِكُمْ وَأَيْدِيكُمْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ كَانَ عَفُوًّا غَفُورًا} [النساء: 43]

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. (Qur’an 4:43)

Allah’s Prophet ﷺ said:

حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ فُضَيْلٍ، عَنْ أَبِي مَالِكٍ الْأَشْجَعِيِّ، عَنْ رِبْعِيٍّ، عَنْ حُذَيْفَةَ، قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: ” فُضِّلْنَا عَلَى النَّاسِ بِثَلَاثٍ: جُعِلَتْ صُفُوفُنَا كَصُفُوفِ الْمَلَائِكَةِ، وَجُعِلَتْ لَنَا الْأَرْضُ كُلُّهَا مَسْجِدًا، وَجُعِلَتْ تُرْبَتُهَا لَنَا طَهُورًا، إِذَا لَمْ نَجِدِ الْمَاءَ “( صحيح مسلم (1/ 371))

We have been made to excel (other) people in three (things): Our rows have been made like the rows of the angels and the whole earth has been made a mosque for us, and its dust has been made a purifier for us in case water is not available. Sahīh Muslim #522

At times a person is unable to use water on account of it being not present at the place, or because of the person suffering from some disease. For that situation, the provision of Tayammum has been made in the Shariʿah. The person should then perform Tayammum in place of Ablution or Bathing so that he is not deprived of the blessing of performing worships which are not valid without them, like Salah which is the greatest of all worships.

The literal meaning of the Arabic word At Tayammum is making an intention.

In Shariʿah, At Tayammum is the method of obtaining Purification through soil intentionally and it consists of wiping the face and the two arms including elbows with a pure earthy substance.

Method of Tayammum

A person who intends to perform Tayammum should roll up his garments from his arms and say بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ  with the intention of making Salah permissible.

He should place the inner part of his palms over a pure clay-lump keeping his fingers separate.

He should move his palms forward and then backward over the clay-lump, then raise them and dust them off.

He should now wipe his face with them. Again, he should place the inner parts of his palms over the clay-lump like the first time.

He should then wipe his right arm from finger tips to the elbow inclusive with his entire left palm. Similarly, he should wipe his left arm including the elbow with his right palm.

He has now completed his Tayammum and can now perform any number of obligatory and non-obligatory Salāhs with this Tayammum.

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This is a brief excerpt from the book “al-fiqh al muyassar”. The topic is discussed in our “FQ101 : Fiqh of Tahara”. Register now to learn this and many more topics of necessity for every Muslim.