Quiz time(9): What is the alternative to ablution, when either water is not available or there is a serious danger to health?

 

Quiz time(9): What is the alternative to ablution, when either water is not available or there is a serious danger to health?

 

Ans: Tayammum (dry ablution).

(no. 347; 1/455 of Fath al-Baari) says: “ ‘It would have been sufficient for you to do this’ – then he struck the palms of his hands on the ground, then dusted them off, then wiped the back of each hand with the other, then he wiped his face with his hands.”

“O you who believe! When you intend to offer As-Salaah (the prayer), wash your faces and your hands (forearms) up to the elbows, rub (by passing wet hands over) your heads, and (wash) your feet up to the ankles. If you are in a state of Janaaba (i.e. after a sexual discharge), purify yourselves (bathe your whole body). But if you are ill or on a journey, or any of you comes after answering the call of nature, or you have been in contact with women (i.e. sexual intercourse), and you find no water, then perform Tayammum with clean earth and rub therewith your faces and hands”

[al-Maa’idah 5:6]

In al-Saheehayn it is narrated from the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) that he said: “The prayer of any one of you will not be accepted if he has broken wind, until he does wudoo’.” Allaah has permitted tayammum, which takes the place of wudoo’, when water is unavailable, or when one is unable to use it because of sickness, etc, because of the aayah quoted above, and because Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“O you who believe! Approach not As‑Salaah (the prayer) when you are in a drunken state until you know (the meaning) of what you utter, nor when you are in a state of Janaaba (i.e. in a state of sexual impurity and have not yet taken a bath), except when travelling on the road (without enough water, or just passing through a mosque), till you wash your whole body. And if you are ill, or on a journey, or one of you comes after answering the call of nature, or you have been in contact with women (by sexual relations) and you find no water, perform Tayammum with clean earth and rub therewith your faces and hands (Tayammum). Truly, Allaah is Ever Oft‑Pardoning, Oft‑Forgiving”

[al-Nisa’ 4:43]

Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (may Allaah have mercy on him) was asked about a sick person who cannot find dust – can he do tayammum by striking his hands on the wall or the bed, and so on?

He replied: If the wall is built of something that comes from the earth, such as rocks or mud bricks, then it is permissible to use it for tayammum. But if the wall is covered with wood or paint, if there is any dust on it then it may be used for tayammum and there is nothing wrong with that. It is like doing tayammum on the ground, because dust particles come from the earth. But if there is no dust on it, then it is not from the earth and cannot be used for tayammum.

With regard to the bed we say, if there is dust on it, it may be used for tayammum, otherwise it should not be used for tayammum because it does not come from the earth.

End quote from Fataawa al-Tahaarah, p. 240.

Conclusion:

It is permissible to do tayammum on walls or vessels made of clay, so long as they are not painted. If they are painted, tayammum is not valid unless there is dust on them. The Muslim can put some sand in a vessel and use that for tayammum.

By Mohammed Asif Ali. #MohammedAsifAli



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