To remove minor or major impurities, water is required, isn’t it? In fact, purification must essentially be done with water. Thus, if it becomes completely or partially impossible to use water on any limb or a part of a limb, what should be done?
The solution is to use soil on the face and both hands.
This is called Tayammum.
Causes
There can be many reasons for being unable to use water:
- When traveling through a land where there is no water.
- When, after using water for bodily purification, there would be no water left to quench thirst.
- Due to illness, when water cannot be used on certain body parts.
- Due to wounds or fractures, when it is not possible to wash a part.
Conditions for Tayammum
- It must truly be impossible to use water.
- Tayammum must be performed only after the time for the specific prayer for which it is intended has entered.
Only one obligatory act of worship can be performed with one Tayammum.
Any number of voluntary acts can be performed with it.
- The soil must be pure.
Materials like cement, grain flour, or sand are not suitable for Tayammum.
Essential Components (Fardh) of Tayammum
1) Intention (Niyyah)
One must intend by heart that Tayammum is being done to make prayer permissible.
2) Specific Intention for Tayammum
It must be specifically intended that the soil is being taken for Tayammum.
If the soil touches the face for some other purpose and the face is wiped, it will not count as Tayammum.
3) Striking both hands on the soil.
4) Wiping the face.
5) Wiping both hands up to and including the elbows.
6) Following the proper sequence.
Tayammum becomes invalid for all the reasons that nullify Wudu as mentioned earlier.
In addition, if at any point during or before the prayer it becomes possible to use water, Tayammum will also become invalid.
If someone reaches a place where neither water nor soil is available, they must pray without purification.
There are no conditions in Tayammum like touching all parts thrice or ensuring full contact with soil, as required in Wudu.
