What dry ablution (tayammum) is, and its conditions

Rulings of Tayammum (Dry Ablution)

1. Tayammum is a purification method using pure soil or dust instead of water for performing ablution (wudu) or a full bath (ghusl), usually due to the absence of water or inability to use it.
2. Three Obligatory Steps in Tayammum:
3. Intention (Niyyah): Make an intention in the heart to purify oneself as a substitute for wudu or ghusl.
4. Wiping the Face: Strike both hands on pure soil, then dust off any excess, and rub them over the face to ensure the whole face is covered.
5. Wiping Both Arms Up to the Elbows: Strike both hands again on pure soil, then rub each arm, including the elbows, to cover them completely.
6. Procedure of Tayammum:
7. Start by making the intention to perform tayammum as a substitute for wudu or ghusl. Say “Bismillah” and tap both hands on pure soil or dust.
8. Wipe the hands over the face fully, making sure no part is left out.
9. Tap hands again and wipe them over each arm up to the elbows, ensuring full coverage.

1. Wiping should be done with at least three fingers.
2. Remove tight rings or any oils from the face and hands that could block the soil.
3. One tayammum can be used for both wudu and ghusl if intended.
4. Materials for Tayammum:
5. Pure soil or anything similar (like sand, pebbles, lime, etc.) can be used. Tayammum cannot be done on non-earthly materials (such as gold, silver, iron, wood, or cloth) unless they have a layer of dust on them.
6. When is Tayammum Permissible?:
7. When traveling or outside a town and no water is available within a mile.
8. When using water may cause or worsen an illness.
9. If there is danger in reaching the water (e.g., due to wild animals or enemies).
10. If essential items (like a bucket or rope) for fetching water are unavailable.
11. If water is only enough for drinking.
12. In situations where using water may lead to missing Eid or funeral prayers.
13. Breaking of Tayammum:
14. Tayammum for wudu is broken by anything that breaks wudu, and tayammum for ghusl is broken by anything that necessitates ghusl.
15. Tayammum is also invalidated if sufficient water becomes available or if the reason for tayammum ceases (e.g., recovery from illness or danger removed).

Rulings of Tayammum (Dry Ablution) 47. Definition of Tayammum

In Islamic terminology, tayammum is the act of symbolically purifying oneself by striking clean soil or a similar substance with the intention to purify, and then wiping it over the face and both hands.

Rulings of Tayammum (Dry Ablution) 48. Tayammum Rules

1. Tayammum is a substitute for ablution (wudu) and ghusl when water is unavailable or inaccessible. It becomes permissible for those in need of purification, like a woman after menstruation or postpartum bleeding, if they cannot access water.
2. Tayammum can also be performed for acts that do not strictly require purification, such as reading the Quran verbally without touching it, visiting graves, or burying the deceased, even if water is available.
3. Tayammum follows the same rulings as wudu or ghusl; if wudu is obligatory, tayammum is also obligatory. Similarly, if wudu is recommended, tayammum will carry the same recommendation.
4. Multiple prayers (fard and nafl) can be performed with a single tayammum.
5. Tayammum is permissible before the time of prayer, and it does not expire with the passing of time.
6. A person who has done tayammum can lead others in prayer.

Rulings of Tayammum (Dry Ablution) 49. Conditions for Valid Tayammum

Tayammum has six essential conditions:

1. Intention (niyyah).
2. Wiping (masah).
3. Using three or more fingers while wiping.
4. Using pure soil or a similar material.
5. The substance used must be purifying.
6. Inability to access water.

Other conditions include:

1. The person must be a Muslim.
2. It is also a condition that there should be no obstacle to wiping the parts of Tayammum, and for women, it is necessary that menstruation (Hayd) and post-childbirth bleeding (Nifas) have stopped.

Note: If any of these conditions are missing, tayammum is invalid.

Rulings of Tayammum (Dry Ablution) 50. Rulings on Intention (Explanation of the First Condition)

1. Intention is required for tayammum, and a general intention to obtain reward is sufficient. However, for prayer, the intention must be specific to an act of worship that requires purification.

Rulings of Tayammum (Dry Ablution) Note

Intentions of purification, removal of impurity, removal of major impurity, or making prayer permissible are all valid intentions.

1. Tayammum made with the intention of voluntary or general prayer can be used for obligatory prayer and other acts of worship.
2. If tayammum is performed for actions that do not qualify as specific acts of worship (like entering a mosque or touching the Quran) or for those not requiring purification, it will not be valid for prayer.
3. If a person in a state of major impurity performs tayammum to read the Quran, it is valid for prayer as well.
4. Tayammum performed for the prostration of recitation (sajdah tilawat) also allows prayer.
5. Tayammum for prostration of gratitude (sajdah shukr) or demonstration purposes does not qualify for prayer.
6. If tayammum is performed for funeral or Eid prayer out of fear of missing them due to lack of time, it is only valid for that specific prayer unless tayammum is performed due to lack of water or illness, in which case it covers other prayers as well.
7. It is permissible for someone in a state of major impurity to perform tayammum with the intention of wudu, thus becoming purified from major impurity.
8. If a sick person is assisted with tayammum by someone else, the intention must be made by the sick person.
9. A non-Muslim who performs tayammum intending to accept Islam cannot pray after embracing Islam with that tayammum, as intention is essential, and a non-Muslim cannot fulfill this requirement of intention.