Ibn Bazz: Ruling on Performing Tayammum when Water is Available

Ruling on Performing Tayammum when Water is Available
Q: What is the ruling on performing Tayammum (dry ablution) when water is available? 

A: Praise be to Allah, Alone. Peace and blessings be upon the Messenger, his family, and Companions. 

Some reliable people told me that some of the Bedouins perform Tayammum when water is available. This is a great evil for which they must be rebuked, because performing Wudu' (ritual ablution) for Salah (Prayer) is one of the conditions of a valid Salah, when water is available. Allah says,O you who believe! When you intend to offer As­Salât (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 Janâba (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. 

( Part No : 10, Page No: 191) 

It is narrated in the Two Sahih (authentic) Books of Hadith (i.e. Al­Bukhari and Muslim)from the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) that he said, The prayer of any one of you will not be accepted if he has broken wind, until he performs Wudu'. Allah has permitted Tayammum, which takes the place of Wudu' when water is unavailable, or when one is unable to use it because of sickness, etc., due to the Ayah quoted above, and because Allah says, O you who believe! Approach not As­Salât (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 Janâba ,(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, Allâh is Ever Oft­Pardoning, Oft­Forgiving. 

It was narrated that `Imran Ibn Husayn (may Allah be pleased with him) said, We were with the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) on a journey. He led the people in prayer, and there was one man who kept away. He said, ‘What kept you from praying?’ He said, ‘ I have become Junub (in a state of major ritual impurity) and there is no water.’ He said, ‘You should perform Tayammum with clean earth, and that is sufficient for you.’ (Agreed upon by Al­Bukhari and Muslim) 

Thus, we know that performing Tayammum for prayer is not permissible when water is available and one is able to use it. Rather it is obligatory for a Muslim to use water for Wudu' 

( Part No : 10, Page No: 192) 

and for Ghusl from Janabah (major ritual impurity related to sexual discharge) no matter where they are, as long as they are able to use it. A Muslim has no excuse for not doing so and for performing Tayammum instead. In that case prayer will be incorrect, because one of its conditions, i.e. purify oneself with water when the person is able to do so, is omitted. 

Many of the Bedouins may Allah guide them and others who go on trips performing Tayammum when water is available and easily accessible, this is undoubtedly serious carelessness and an abhorrent and impermissible action, because it runs against Shari`ah. Rather a Muslim is excused for performing Tayammum if water is far away or there is only a small amount of it that is only enough for his, his family or his livestock survival, and the source of water is too far. 

Every Muslim, whenever he or she is, has to fear Allah in all their affairs. They have to adhere to Allah's Commands, which provide for performing Wudu’ with water when one is able to. A Muslim must beware of Allah's prohibitions, including Tayammum when water is available and they are able to use it. 

I ask Allah to give all the Muslims and us understanding of His religion and to make us all steadfast in adhering to it. May He grant us protection from the evil of our own souls and from our evil deeds, for He is Most Generous, Most Kind. May Allah grant us success! May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family and Companions! 

( Part No : 10, Page No: 193)