Allah says in the Quran,
"If you are all ill on a
journey or any one of you has answered the call of nature or
had intercourse and you do not find water, you must do dry
ablution with clean earth by wiping your faces and hands,
surely Allah is purifying and pardoning." (4:43)
Tayamum is a blessing of Allah and manifestation of Islaams
practicality and flexibility. When a person is ill or does
not find water then to take the ritual bath (ghusl) or
ablution may not be possible thus tayamum is an alternative
because one is not allowed to delay or miss prayers or touch
Quran in state of minor or major ritual impurity.
Tayamum can be done on anything which is clean provided it
is from the earth, like sand, stone, dust and plaster.
METHOD TO MAKE TAYAMUM (DRY ABLUTION)
1. Make intention that I am making tayamum for the purpose
of obtaining purity.
2. Strike both hands on the stone, sand whatever is
available from the same kind of earth. Sake off the excess
and wipe both hands over the face as you are washing the
face making sure that no part of the face is left out.
3. Now strike both hands again on the earth after shaking
away the excess dust. Wipe both arms including the elbows in
the following manner:
a) After placing four fingers of the left hand under the
finger tips of the right hand rub towards the elbow of the
right hand.
b) In similar manner beginning from the elbow rub over the
inner parts of the right hand up to the fingers, ending up
by passing the inner part of the left thumb over the outer
portion of the right thumb. After completing the right hand
do exactly the same with the left hand.
c) This is followed by making khilal (combing) of the
fingers. If one is wearing a ring it should be either
removed or rotated.
CONDITIONS FOR VALIDITY OF
TAYAMUM
1. Intention for obtaining purity for performance of salah,
reciting Quran and whichever act of worship one intends to
practice.
2. To be one mile away from water even in the city.
3. To be sick or due to cold one fears the use of water will
be harmful.
4. Due to fear of an enemy in battle etc.
5. Due to thirst meaning that if you use the water for wuzu
then no water will be left to drink.
6. Non availability of any instrument to draw water e.g.
rope, bucket, no tap.
7. On fearing if one performs wuzu the funeral prayer will
be missed or one fears missing the Eid salah altogether.
8. Tayamum should be made on such a substance that is of
earth e.g. sand, stone, soil, sea sand and that which does
not burn, melt or form into ash.
9. Tayamum cannot be made on wood, silver metal or gold.
10. One should wipe the whole area of face and hands up to
and including elbows, so that not even small part is left
untouched.
11. One should strike the palms of the hand thrice on the
sand.
12. Tayamum replaces wuzu when one is free from major
impurities such as janabat, menstrual and postnatal
bleeding.
13. It is necessary to wait for promised water even if salah
is missed.
14. It is necessary to search for water within a radius of
four hundred steps.
SOME USEFUL ISSUES REGARDING TAYAMUM
1. If half or more of the body is wounded then one can make
tayamum.
2. If more than half the body is well then wash the part
which is well and perform masah (rub a wet hand) over the
wounded part.
3. Whatever breaks wuzu will also tayamum.
OBLIGATORY (FARZ) ACTS OF
TAYAMUM
1. To wipe the full face.
2. To wipe over both hands including the elbows.
PROPHETIC ACTS (SUNNAHS) IN TAYAMUM
1. To begin with Bismillah (in the name of Allah).
2. To wipe the face before wiping arms.
3. To do these actions without long intervals in between.
4. To move the two hands forwards and backwards after
placing them on sand.
5. To shake the excess dust off hands.
6. To keep the fingers a part when placing hands on the
sand.
7. To wipe the right hand first and then the left hand.
8. To comb the beard with fingers after wiping the face.
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