Tayammum' literally means intention and will, and in Islamic jurisprudence, tayammum refers to 'an act that, under certain conditions, replaces ablution (wudu) and full ritual washing (ghusl).' For more information, stay with SaedNews.
Tayammum is a ritual act of worship that becomes obligatory in certain cases instead of ablution (wudu) or full ritual washing (ghusl). Its steps include: striking the palms of both hands on soil and then wiping the forehead and the backs of the hands. The purification resulting from tayammum is like that from ablution and ghusl, and as long as the excuse for tayammum remains, there is no difference between its purity and that of ablution or ghusl. Tayammum is also called "soil purification" (taharat-e turabiyyah) or "emergency purification" (taharat-e ezterari).
Two verses in the Quran and more than 220 narrations in hadith collections address the conditions and obligations of tayammum.
In language, tayammum comes from the root letters "y-m-m" or "a-m-m," meaning "to intend." In Islamic jurisprudence, tayammum means wiping the forehead and the backs of the hands with soil. Tayammum is called "soil purification" or "emergency purification," while ablution and ghusl are called "water purification."
Someone who cannot perform ablution to carry out acts requiring wudu must perform tayammum as a substitute for ablution.
Someone who cannot perform ghusl to carry out acts requiring ghusl must perform tayammum as a substitute for ghusl.
These two types of tayammum differ in intention.
Some jurists believe that when performing tayammum instead of ghusl, one should strike the hands on soil twice: once at the beginning and once before wiping the backs of the hands.
Some believe that in case of tayammum instead of ghusl (except for major impurity), performing ablution or tayammum instead of ablution is also necessary for prayer and other acts requiring purification.
No water is found.
Excessive hardship.
Fear of harm.
Need for water to preserve life.
Need for water for purification.
No permissible water available.
No time for ablution or ghusl.
There are four obligatory acts in tayammum:
Intention (niyyah).
Striking both palms together on something valid for tayammum (soil, dust, etc.) with a tap—simply placing the hands on the ground is not sufficient.
Wiping the entire forehead and its sides with both palms, from the hairline to the eyebrows and upper part of the nose; it is recommended that the hands also pass over the eyebrows.
Wiping the back of the right hand with the palm of the left hand, then wiping the back of the left hand with the palm of the right hand.
The steps of tayammum should be done consecutively without long pauses.
The part being wiped should remain stationary while the wiping hand moves.
The parts used in tayammum must be clean and free from barriers like rings or adhesives; if these cannot be removed, a tayammum with a bandage (jazirah) can be performed.
Normally, one should not receive help from others when performing tayammum.
Wiping the nose is not necessary.
After striking the palms on the soil, one can clap the hands lightly to remove excess dust.
Tayammum as a substitute for ghusl and as a substitute for wudu have no difference in ruling, but it is recommended to strike the soil a second time after wiping the forehead and then wipe the backs of the hands as described.
The wiping of the forehead and backs of the hands should be done from top to bottom consecutively.
The person must remove rings and remove any barriers from the forehead, backs of the hands, or palms before performing tayammum.
Q200: If substances such as soil, chalk, or stone suitable for tayammum are stuck to a wall, is tayammum valid on them, or must they be on the ground?
A: It is not necessary for them to be on the ground for tayammum to be valid.
Q201: If a person in a state of major impurity (janabah) is unable to access a bath for several days and performs tayammum instead of ghusl for prayer, but then experiences minor impurity (wudu-breaking), must they perform tayammum again for the next prayers, or does the initial tayammum suffice?
A: If a person has properly performed tayammum instead of ghusl for janabah, and then experiences minor impurity, until the excuse allowing tayammum remains, by precaution, they must perform tayammum instead of ghusl for acts requiring purification and also perform ablution. If unable to perform ablution, they must perform tayammum again instead.
Q202: Does tayammum instead of ghusl carry all the definitive rulings of ghusl, such as the permissibility of entering the mosque?
A: All legal effects of ghusl apply to tayammum instead of ghusl, unless tayammum is performed due to lack of time.
Q203: A war-injured person with spinal injury cannot control urination and finds going to the bath difficult. Can they perform tayammum instead of ghusl for recommended acts like Friday prayer ghusl or visiting shrines?
A: Tayammum instead of ghusl for acts that do not require obligatory purification, such as visiting shrines, is problematic, but using it instead of recommended ghusls in cases of hardship with the intention of seeking reward is permissible.
