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Sources: Islamic Laws, Minhaj al-Salihin, Jurisprudence Made Easy, and The Ritual and Spiritual Purity by Sayyid Muhammad Rizvi (unless otherwise specified)
Q) What is Tayammum?
A) Tayammum is dry ablution, i.e. using dry objects instead of water to perform Wudhu (ablution).
Q) On what substances or things can Tayammum be performed?
A) It is not permissible to do Tayammum on something for which the term earth cannot be applied, even if it originates from it, such as ashes without earth, plants, and some minerals such as gold and silver.
Tayammum should be done on earth, sand, lump of clay or stone provided that each one of these should be Tahir and not usurped. The recommended precaution is that if earth is available Tayammum should not be performed on anything else. If earth is not available, then it can be performed on sand or a lump of clay, and in absence of these on a stone.
NOTE: That which is used for Tayammum must leave traces in your hands. Thus it is not permissible to use smooth stone with no dust covering it.
Q) When does Tayammum become applicable?
A) Tayammum should be performed instead of Wudhu or Ghusl in the following seven circumstances.
i) when it is not possible to find sufficient water to perform either Wudhu or Ghusl.
ii) when a person is unable to get water because of old age, sickness, weakness, fear of danger or it becomes intolerably difficult.
iii) when a person fears that the use of water is harmful because of sickness, etc.
iv) when using up water for Wudhu or Ghusl will cause intolerable hardship only in the following three circumstances:
(a) if he fears that by using up the water for Wudhu or Ghusl he will suffer an acute thirst which may result in his illness or death, or it may cause unbearable hardship.
(b) If he fears that his dependants whose protection is his responsibility, may become ill or die due to thirst.
(c) If he fears that others, human beings or animals, may die or suffer some illness or become unbearably restless and distressed due to lack of water.
v) when there is only enough water to purify (make tahir) one’s body or dress. But if he does not have anything upon which he would do tayammum, then he should use the water for Ghusl and/or Wudhu, and pray with najis body or dress.
vi) when the only water or the container for water available is not permitted to use, i.e. usurped (ghasbi).
vii) when there is insufficient time to make Wudhu or Ghusl to be able to perform either the whole or part of the Salaat within its prescribed time, i.e. before the Salaat becomes qadha.
A) There are four obligatory acts to be performed:
i) Intention (Niyyah)
ii) Striking or keeping both palms together on the object on which Tayammum is valid.
iii) Wiping or stroking the entire forehead with both palms, i.e. with the ends of the palms begin the stroking/wiping of the forehead from where the hair grows, over the eyebrows up to the bridge of the nose.
iv) Passing the left palm over the back of the right hand from the wrist-joint to the end of the fingers and then the right palm over the back of the left hand from the wrist-joint to the end of the fingers.
NOTE: It is recommended to strike the hands on earth the second time and repeat passing the palms on both hands as described above.
1] As is the case in Wudhu, wiping should be done from top to bottom.
2] Continuity (muwalat). The acts of Tayammum must follow each other.
3] Order (tartibi). All the acts must be done in the order described above.
4] While performing Tayammum one should remove the ring if he is wearing one and also remove any obstruction which may be on his forehead or on the palms or back of his hands (e.g. if anything is stuck on them).
5] The things which invalidate Wudhu or Ghusl, invalidate the Tayammum performed instead of Wudhu or Ghusl also.
Q) Kindly, explain as to how one should go about performing Tayammum if he has a wound on his forehand which is bandaged?
A) If a person has a wound on his forehead or on the back of his hands and if it is tied with a bandage or something else which cannot be removed, he should wipe his hands over it. And if the palm of his hand is wounded and bandaged which cannot be removed, he should strike his bandaged hands on a thing with which it is permissible to perform Tayammum and then wipe his forehead and the back of his hands.
Q) Is the Tayammum performed for an act sufficient for performance of other acts which require Wudhu or Ghusl?
A) If a person whose obligation is Tayammum performs Tayammum for an act, he can perform all those acts which should be done with Wudhu or Ghusl, as long as his Tayammum and the excuse remain. However, if his excuse was shortage of Namaz time, or if he performed Tayammum for Namaz-e-Meyyit, then his Tayammum is valid for its intention and purpose only.
Q) If a person whose duty is to perform Tayammum cannot find any form of earth to do Tayammum, what are his alternatives?
A) If a person cannot find earth, sand, lump of clay or stone, he should perform Tayammum on mud, and if even that is not available, then on the dust (that had gathered on the floor or the ground, on a carpet or a cloth.
Note: If he can make mud dry and obtain earth from it, then Tayammum on wet mud is not permissible.
And if none of the above mentioned things is available, he should, on the basis of recommended precaution, pray without Tayammum, but it will be obligatory for him to repeat the prayers later as Qadha.
Q) Are there any conditions attached as regards to the items on which Tayammum is performed?
A) All the items of Tayammum must have the following conditions:-
1. It must be dry as much as possible.
2. It must be tahir (pure).
3. It must be mubah (lawful).
4. The place where the above mentioned things are also must be mubah.
Q) If more than one Ghusl become Wajib, does he have to perform separate Tayammum for each Ghusl?
A) If more than one Ghusl are Wajib on a person, then a single Tayammum with the Niyyah of all those Ghusls will suffice, but the recommended precaution is that for each of those Ghusls he should perform a separate Tayammum.
Q) Can one perform a Mustahab Tayammum in lieu of a Mustahab Ghusl?
A) There is no Mustahab Tayammum per se. However, in one case Mustahab Tayammum can be performed, i.e. as it is recommended to perform Wudhu before climbing into bed to sleep at night, if someone forgets to perform the Wudhu or the Wudhu breaks, then one can perform the Mustahab Tayammum in lieu of the Wudhu in bed in the hope of earning divine pleasure (raja’), even if he is able to use water.
Q) If a person doubts that there may exist an impediment in some areas of Tayammum, is he required to make certain that there is no obstruction before performing Tayammum?
A) If there is a doubt about the existence of an obstacle in some areas of Tayammum, then it is necessary to investigate until certainty or the assurance of its absence is acquired.
Q) If a person performs Tayammum instead of Ghusl due to an excuse and it so happens that an impurity requiring Wudhu occurs, what is he required to do?
A) If a person in a state of ritual impurity requiring Ghusl – such as Janabat, etc. – performs Tayammum due to an excuse, and the impurity requiring Wudhu occurs, then his Tayammum is not invalidated. He should then perform Wudhu if possible, otherwise Tayammum instead of Wudhu.
Q) Is it permissible to perform Tayammum, due to an excuse, for praying Salaat at the prime time when there is no hope that his excuse will be removed before the time of Salaat lapses?
A) Performance of Tayammum is not permissible if one has not given up hope of the excuse being removed before the lapse of Salaat time. If one has given up hope of it, then there is no ishkal in the permissibility of saying the prayers without delay. If prayers are said having given up hope of it, then it is not necessary to repeat it despite the removal of the excuse within the time of prayer.
Q) If it becomes obligatory for a person to perform Tayammum instead of Wudhu or Ghusl because of sickness, he still performs Wudhu or Ghusl, will his Wudhu or Ghusl be valid?
A) If Tayammum is obligatory due to the absence of certain conditions for Wudhu or Ghusl, and a person does Wudhu or Ghusl forgetfully or neglectfully or out of ignorance, it is not valid.
Things on which tayammum is allowed:
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