Islam 312: How To Perform Dry Ablution (At-Tayammum)

What is Tayammum?

Well, tayammum is the act of performing ablution using sand or dust if water is not available.

"O you who believe! When you intend to offer As-Salat (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 ankles . If you are in a state of Janaba (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. Allah does not want to place you in difficulty, but He wants to purify you, and to complete His Favour to you that you may be thankful." - Qur'an 4:43

Instances When Tayammum Is Permitted:

1. When one has searched earnestly for water, and has found that it is not available, or it is not sufficient enough for wudhu, Tayammum is permitted.

2. When water is nearby, but the person is not able to fetch it due to fear for his/her life, family and wealth, (e.g. from an enemy either beast or human in the vicinity) then, At-Tayammum may be performed.

3. If one is injured or ill and believes that the use of water will worsen his/her condition (one does not have to be absolutely sure about it, but the assumption must be based on a past experience or from what a well-informed person has said), Tayammum is allowed.

4. Tayammum is allowed when the water available is not enough for wudhu, or of the person is saving it up for cooking or drinking.

5. Tayammum is allowed when the water is too cold such that it may harm the person and there is no means of heating the water, or if a public bathroom is not available.

What Kind Of Soil Can Be Used For Tayammum?

It Must be pure soil (I.e., sand, stone, gypsum and so on... Anything that covers the earth that produces sand or dust when hit with the earth).

How To Perform Tayammum:

First and foremost, you must make the intention of performing Tayammum, and you must say bismillah (in the name of Allah) before you begin.

After making the intention in your heart, you then strike the soil with your hands, then you blow it (so that you are not covered with sand or dust), and then you wipe your face and hands (up to your wrist and starting with the right hand).

Then you finish with the dua as you usually do after wudhu ( "ashadu anla illahha illahu wadahu la shareeka lahu, wa ashadu Anna muhamadan abduhu wa rasulu")

And that is how you perform the At-Tayammum. There is no difference between it and the normal ablution (in terms of purification), it can also be performed when water is not available and one needs to perform ghusl (after sexual intercourse or wet dreams etc). You can also touch the Qur'an after performing at-Tayammum.

Abu Tharr reported that the Prophet (pbuh) said: "The soil is a purifier for a Muslim, even if he does not find water for ten years. Then if he finds water, that is, to make ablution, and so on, it becomes incumbent upon him to use it." [Ahmad and At-Tirmithi]

However, like wudhu, there are things that nullify Tayammum:

Things that come out of the anus or penis/vagina such as urine, feaces or gas etc.

Falling sound asleep.

Intoxication, insanity or fainting (unconsciousness).

Touching the uncovered private parts.

Vomiting.

Discharge of blood, pus or anything from the body.

Touching a woman in a way that leads to semen being emitted. A man can still touch, kiss and hug his wife and his wudhu will still be valid. It will only break if these actions lead to the emission of semen.