This article explains the rulings of tayammum according to the Hanbali madhhab. The rulings are summarized from Sharh Muntaha al-Iradat, Kashshaf al-Qina, and Matalib Uli al-Nuha.

Tayammum (Dry Ablution)

Tayammum is a substitute for purification with water when a person is unable to use water in a legally recognized manner. It consists of wiping the face and hands with pure dust and permits whatever purification with water would normally permit, subject to the conditions explained below.

Conditions of Tayammum

In addition to the general conditions of purification, tayammum has the following conditions:

• The time for an obligatory prayer has entered. Tayammum is not valid before the time for prayer enters.
• There is a legally recognized excuse for not using water.
• The tayammum is performed with valid dust or soil.

A Legally Recognized Excuse

Tayammum is only permitted when a person is unable to use water in a legally recognized sense. This includes:

• Water is unavailable.
• Water is available but needed for drinking or survival.
• Using water would likely cause illness, delay recovery, worsen an injury, or cause significant harm.
• Water cannot be reached safely because of danger.
• Water is available only at an unreasonably excessive price.
• The available water cannot lawfully be used, such as when pure and impure water cannot be distinguished.

If a person has only enough water to perform part of the purification, they must use the available water first and then complete the purification with tayammum.

Valid Dust/Soil

The dust used for tayammum must meet the following conditions:

• Natural earth (soil) or dust. Tayammum is not valid with substances that are not considered natural soil, such as plaster.
• Pure and permissible. This excludes impure, stolen, or usurped soil. If another substance is mixed with the soil, tayammum is valid so long as the soil remains the predominant material.
• Unburnt. Ash cannot be used for tayammum.
• Fine enough that dust adheres to the hands. Materials that do not leave dust on the hands, such as carpet, or clean stone, cannot be used unless they are covered with sufficient dust.

A person who has neither water nor suitable dust must pray without purification. They perform only the obligatory parts of the prayer and are not required to repeat the prayer later.

Cases Where Tayammum Is Not Valid

Tayammum does not replace water in every circumstance. It is not valid for:

• Removing impurity from clothing, the ground, or other objects.
• Washing the private parts after the discharge of pre-seminal fluid.
• Washing the hands upon waking from night sleep.
• Entering or remaining in a mosque while in a state of major ritual impurity.

How to Perform Tayammum

Tayammum consists of:

1. Striking the earth once with both hands.

   Strike natural dust or soil once so that some dust adheres to the hands.

2. Wiping the entire face.

   Wipe the entire face, including the beard up to its hanging hair. It is not necessary to wipe beneath the beard, even if it is thin, nor the inside of the mouth or nose.

3. Wiping both hands up to and including the wrists.

   Wipe both hands only up to the wrists. The forearms are not included.

4. Maintain the correct order and continuity.

   The face must be wiped before the hands, and each part should be wiped without a significant interruption. This is required only when tayammum replaces wuduʾ. It is not required when tayammum replaces ghusl or removes impurity from the body.

5. Make the correct intention.

   The intention must specify what the tayammum is for, such as:

   • Minor ritual impurity, replacing wuduʾ.
   • Major ritual impurity, replacing ghusl.
   • Impurity on the body when water cannot be used.

   Simply intending to remove ritual impurity is insufficient, since tayammum grants permission to perform acts of worship but does not remove the ritual impurity itself.

Combining Intentions

A single tayammum does not cover multiple purposes unless they are intended together. For example:

• If a person intends both minor and major ritual impurity, one tayammum suffices for both.
• If a person intends ritual impurity and impurity on the body together, one tayammum suffices for both.
• If only one of these is intended, the tayammum does not cover the others.

What Invalidates Tayammum

Tayammum is invalidated by:

• Anything that invalidates wuduʾ or necessitates ghusl.
• The expiry of the prayer time. As soon as the prayer time expires, tayammum is invalidated.
• Finding water when tayammum was performed because water was unavailable.
• The removal of the excuse that permitted tayammum. Such as recovery from illness or the disappearance of danger.
• The removal of anything over which wiping had been permitted, such as a bandage, or the expiry of its wiping period.