Liaison office of Grand Ayatullah Sayyid Ali Al Sistani (L.M.H.L) in London, Europe, North and South America.
Tayammum should be performed instead of Wudhu or Ghusl in the following seven
circumstances:
First: When it is not possible to procure sufficient water for
performing Wudhu or Ghusl.
655. If a person happens to be in a populated area he should make his
best efforts to procure water for Wudhu or Ghusl till such time that he loses
all hope. And if he happens to be in a desert, he should search for water on
the way or at nearby places. And if the land is uneven, or densely wooded, and
it is difficult to walk, he should search for water in all the four directions
for a distance covered by one or two flings of an arrow. (A fling is equal to
about two hundred steps).
656. If out of the four directions, some are even and others are
uneven, one should search for water in the even direction to the extent of two
arrow flings, and on the side which is uneven to the extent of one arrow
fling.
657. It is not obligatory for a person to search for water in the
direction where he is sure that water is not available.
658. If the time left for Namaz is not short, and if he is sure or
feels sure that water is available at a farther place, he should go there to
procure water, provided that going there is not extremely difficult, and that
the distance is not unusually long. And if he has mere suspicion about water
being there, then it is not necessary for him to go.
In his commentary on
the book entitled Man la Yahzuruhul Faqih the late Allama Majlisi has defined
the distance covered by an arrow to be equal to 200 footsteps.
659. It is not necessary that a person should go himself in search of
water. He can send a reliable person for this purpose. And it is sufficient
if one person goes on behalf of many.
660. If a person feels that there might be some water in the provision
he carries or at the place of encampment or even in the convoy, he should
search for it thoroughly, till he is satisfied that there is no water or he
becomes hopeless.
661. If a person searched for water before the time for Namaz, but did
not find it and if he stayed there till the time of prayers set in, he should
search for water again, as a recommended precaution, provided he feels that
water may be found.
662. If a person searched for water after the time for Namaz had set
in, and did not find it, if he stayed there till the time for next prayers,
and if he felt there was a possibility of water being found, the recommended
precaution is that he should go in search of water again.
663. When the time left for prayers is short or when there is fear of
thieves or wild beasts or when the search for water is unbearable, it is not
necessary for one to search for water.
664. If a person does not search for water till the time for Namaz
approaches Qadha, in spite of the fact that he would have found water if he
had tried, such a person has committed a sin, but the namaz which he will pray
with tayammum will be valid.
665. If a person is sure that he cannot get water and does not,
therefore, go in search of water and offers his prayers with tayammum, but
realises after prayers that if he had made an effort he would have fetched
water, he should, as an obligatory precaution, do wudhu and repeat the
prayers.
666. If a person could not get water after a search and prayed with
tayammum and then learns later after offering prayers that water was available
at the place where he had searched, his prayers is valid.
667. If a person believed that the time left for prayers was little,
and prayed with tayammum without going in search of water, but later learnt
after the prayers but before the expiry of time that there was time for a search
of water, then the obligatory precaution is that he should repeat that prayer.
668. If the time for Namaz has set in and a person is already with
Wudhu, he should not allow his Wudhu to become void if he knows that he will
not be able to find water or he will not be able to do Wudhu again. As an
obligatory precaution, he should not invalidate his Wudhu deliberately.
However, a man can have sex with his wife even if he knows that he will not be
able to do Ghusl.
669. Similarly, if a person is with Wudhu before the time for prayers
set in, and knew that if he made his Wudhu void, it would not be possible for
him to get water, the recommended precaution is that he should try to keep his
Wudhu intact. As an obligatory precaution, he should not invalidate the Wudhu
deliberately.
670. If a person has just sufficient water for Wudhu or for Ghusl, and
if he knows that if he spills it he will not be able to get water again, it
is haraam for him to spill it if the time for prayers has already set in, and
the obligatory precaution is that he should not throw it away even before the
time for prayers sets in.
671. If a person knew that he would not get water, and yet made his
Wudhu void or spilled it after the time for prayers had set in, he committed a
sin but his prayers with tayammum will be order. However, the recommended
precaution is that he should offer the Qadha of the prayers.
Second:
672. If a person is unable to procure water on account of old age or
weakness, or fear of a thief or a beast, or because he does not possess means
to draw water from a well, he should perform tayammum. The same would apply if
acquiring water is intolerably difficult. But in this last situation, if a
person, inspite of the difficulty, did not perform tayammum, and did Wudhu,
his Wudhu will be valid.
673. If a bucket, a rope and other similar implements are needed for
pulling water out of a well, and the person concerned is obliged to purchase
or hire them, he should do so even if he has to pay much more than the usual
rate. Similarly, he has to buy the water even if it is sold at a higher price.
However, if by doing so, his economic condition is harmed, then it is not
obligatory to procure them.
674. If a person is obliged to take a loan for procuring water he
should take a loan. However, if he knows or feels that it will not be possible
for him to repay the loan it is not obligatory for him to take a loan.
675. If digging a well does not involve much hardship the person
concerned should dig a well to get water.
676. If he is given water by another person without any obligation he
should accept it.
Third:
677. If a person fears that if he uses water his life will be
endangered, or he will suffer from some ailment or physical defect, or the
illness from which he is already suffering will be prolonged, or become acute
or some complications may arise in its treatment, he should perform tayammum.
However, if he can avoid the harm by using warm water, he should prepare warm
water and do Wudhu, or Ghusl when it is necessary.
678. It is not necessary to be absolutely certain that water is
harmful to him. If he feels that there is a probability of harm, and if that
probability is justified by popular opinion, giving cause for some fear, then
he should do tayammum.
679. If a person has an eye disease and water is harmful to him he
should perform tayammum.
680. If a person performs tayammum on account of certainty or fear
about water being harmful to him but realises before Namaz that it is not
harmful, his tayammum is void. And if he realises this after having prayed he
should offer the prayers again with Wudhu or Ghusl.
681. If a person was sure that water was not harmful to him, and he
did Ghusl or Wudhu, but later realised that water was harmful to him, his wudhu
and Ghusl will be void.
Fourth:
682. If a person fears that if he uses water for Ghusl or Wudhu, he
will be involved in hardship because of thirst, he should perform tayammum.
Tayammum is permissible in the following three cases:
If he fears that by using up the water for Ghusl or Wudhu he will suffer
an acute thirst, which may result in his illness or death, or it may cause
intolerable hardship.
If he fears that his dependents whose protection is his responsibility,
may become ill or die due to thirst.
If he fears that others, human beings or animals, may die or suffer some
illness or become unbearably restless and distressed due to lack of water.
Apart from these three conditions mentioned, it is not permissible to perform
tayammum when water is available.
683. If besides the Pak water which a person has for Wudhu or Ghusl
he also has najis water enough for drinking, he should keep the Pak water for
drinking and pray with tayammum. When water is required for other people
attached to him, he would keep Pak water for Wudhu and Ghusl and let them
quench their thirst with najis water, regardless of whether they know about
the najasat or not, or whether they care about it or not. If water is required
for an animal or a minor child, it should be given najis water to drink and
Pak water be used for Wudhu or Ghusl.
Fifth:
684. If the body or dress of a person is najis and he possesses only
as much water as is likely to be exhausted if he does Ghusl or Wudhu, and no
water would be available for making his body or dress Pak, he should make is
body or dress Pak and pray Namaz with tayammum. But if he does not have anything
upon which he would do tayammum, then he should use the water for Ghusl and
Wudhu, and pray with najis body or dress.
Sixth:
685. If a person possesses such water or container which is not
permitted to use, like when they are usurped (Ghasbi) he should perform
tayammum instead of Ghusl and Wudhu.
Seventh:
686. When the time left for Namaz is so little that if a person does
Ghusl or Wudhu he would be obliged to offer the entire prayers or a part of it
after the prescribed time, he should perform tayammum.
687. If a person intentionally delays offering the prayers till no
time is left for Ghusl or Wudhu, he commits a sin, but the prayers offered by
him with tayammum will be valid, although recommended precaution is that he
should give Qadha of the prayers.
688. If a person doubts whether any time will be left for prayers if
he does Ghusl or Wudhu, he should perform tayammum .
689. If a person performs tayammum owing to shortage of time and after
the Namaz he had an opportunity to do Wudhu but did not do so till the water
he had is no longer with him, he will have to perform a new tayammum for
subsequent prayers, even if the first tayammum had not become void, provided,
of course, that tayammum continues to be his religious obligation.
690. If a person has water, but because of shortage of time he prays
with tayammum and while in prayers, the water he had goes out of his possession,
he will, as per recommended precaution, do tayammum again for the subsequent
prayers, provided that his religious obligation continues to be tayammum.
691. If a person has only just enough time that he may perform Wudhu
or Ghusl and offer prayers without its Mustahab acts like Iqamah and Qunut, he
should do Ghusl or Wudhu, whichever is then necessary, and pray without those
Mustahab parts. In fact, if for that purpose, he has to avoid the next Sura
after al-Hamd, he should do so after doing Wudhu or Ghusl.
Things on which Tayammum is allowed
692. Tayammum can be done on earth, sand, lump of clay or stone but
the recommended precaution is that if earth is available tayammum should not
be performed on anything else. If earth is not available, then it can be
performed on sand or a lump of clay, and in absence of these on a stone.
693. Tayammum can also be done on gypsum or lime-stone. Similarly,
tayammum is allowed on dust which gathers on the dress or the carpets etc.,
provided that its quantity is such that it can be termed as soft earth.
However, it is a recommended precaution, that using dust be avoided if other
alternatives are available. It is also a recommended precaution that baked
gypsum, lime, brick and mineral stones be avoided.
694. If a person cannot find earth, sand, lump of clay or stone, he
should perform tayammum on mud, and if even that is not available, then on dust
particles which settle on the carpets or the dresses, though it may not be in
a quantity which could be considered as soft earth. And if none of these things
is available he should, on the basis of recommended precaution, pray without
tayammum, but it will be obligatory for him to repeat the prayers later as
Qadha.
695. If a person can gather some earth by shaking the carpet etc. then
to do tayammum with dust particles will not be correct. And similarly if he
can make mud dry and obtain earth from it, then tayammum on wet mud will be
incorrect and void.
696. If a person does not have water, but has snow or ice he should,
if possible, melt it into water and perform Wudhu and Ghusl. And if it is not
possible to do so and also he does not have anything on which tayammum is
allowed then it is necessary that he should give Qadha after Namaz time. But
it is better that he should make the parts of Wudhu or Ghusl wet with snow or
ice. And if even this is not possible he should perform tayammum on snow or
ice and offer prayers in time.
697. If a thing like straw, on which tayammum is void, gets mixed with
clay and sand, then tayammum cannot be performed on it. However, if it is so
little that it gets lost in the sand or clay, then tayammum with it is valid.
698. If a person does not own anything on which to perform tayammum
he should, if possible, get it by purchasing or other similar means.
699. Performing tayammum on mud wall is valid but the recommended
precaution is that if dry earth or clay is available, tayammum should not be
performed on wet earth or mud.
700. The thing on which a person performs tayammum should be Pak and,
if he has no Pak thing on which tayammum would be correct, it is not obligatory
for him to offer prayers. He should, however, give its Qadha, though it is
better that he should pray within the prescribed time.
701. If a person was sure that tayammum on a particular thing was
valid and he did it accordingly, but came to know later that tayammum
performed was void, he would repeat the prayers performed with that tayammum.
702. The thing used for tayammum should not have been usurped, or
obtained without the owner's permission. Tayammum on usurped objects like
earth, etc, will be void.
703. Tayammum performed in usurped area or space is not void. Hence,
if a person strikes his hands on the earth for tayammum in his own property,
and then enters the property of another person without obtaining permission to
wipe his hands on his forehead, his tayammum is correct and valid, though he
has committed a sin (by trespassing).
704. If someone does tayammum on a usurped object, forgetfully or by
way of negligence, his tayammum will be valid. However, if a person himself
usurps something, and then forgets that he has usurped it, then tayammum
performed on such a thing cannot be considered as valid.
705. If a person is imprisoned in a usurped place and both the water
and earth of that place are usurped, he should pray with tayammum.
706. The thing on which a person is performing tayammum should, if
possible, on the basis of obligatory precaution, have particles which would
stick to the hands, and after striking hands on it, one should not shake off
all the particles from ones hands.
707. It is Makrooh to perform tayammum on the earth of a pit, and
street dust, or the saline earth, on which a layer of salt has not settled.
If, however, a layer of salt has settled on the earth, performance of tayammum
on it is void.
Method of performing Tayammum instead of Ghusl or
Wudhu
708. The following 4 things are obligatory in tayammum performed
instead of Ghusl or Wudhu.
Intention (Niyyat)
Striking or keeping both the palms on the object on which tayammum is valid.
As an obligatory precaution, this should be done by both the palms together.
Wiping or stroking the entire forehead with the palms of both the hands, and,
as an obligatory precaution, its two ends commencing from the spot where the
hair of one's head grow down to the eyebrows and above the nose. And it is
recommended that the palms pass over the eyebrows as well. To pass the left
palm over the whole back of the right hand and thereafter, to pass the right
palm over the whole back of the left hand.
709. The recommended precaution is that tayammum, whether it is
instead of Ghusl or Wudhu, should be performed in the following order: First,
he/she should strike the hands on the earth to wipe the forehead and the back
of the hands, and then strike the hands on earth once again to wipe the back
of the hands.
Orders regarding Tayammum
710. If a person leaves out even a small part of his forehead or the
back of his hands in tayammum, forgetfully or intentionally, or even due to
ignorance, his tayammum will be void. However, it is not necessary to be very
particular; if it can be ordinarily assumed that the forehead and the backs of
the hands have been wiped, it would be sufficient.
711. In order to be sure that the backs of the hands have been wiped,
wiping should be done from slightly above the wrist, but wiping in between the
fingers is not necessary.
712. As a precaution, the forehead and the backs of the hands should
be wiped downwards from above, and their acts should be performed one after
the other without undue interruption. If someone interrupts the sequence so
much that it could not be said that he is doing tayammum, then tayammum will
be void.
713. It is not necessary to determine while making Niyyat that a
particular tayammum is instead of Wudhu or Ghusl. However, if he has to
perform two tayammums, then he must clearly specify which is instead of Wudhu
and which for Ghusl. And even if he fails to determine correctly the purpose
of one tayammum which is obligatory upon him, due to some error, it will be
deemed correct as long as he is aware that he is discharging his religious
obligation.
714. As a recommended precaution the forehead, the palm of the hands
and the backs of the hands of a person wishing to do tayammum should be Pak.
715. While performing tayammum one should remove the ring one is
wearing and also remove any obstruction which may be on his forehead or on the
palms or back of his hands (e.g. if anything is stuck on them).
716. If a person has a wound on his forehead or on the back of his
hands and if it is tied with a bandage or something else, which cannot be
removed, he should wipe his hands over it. And if the palm of his hand is
wounded and, bandaged in a way that it cannot be removed, he should strike his
bandaged hands on a thing with which it is permissible to perform tayammum and
then wipe his forehead and the back of his hands.
717. There is no harm if there is hair on the forehead or on the back
of hands. However, if the hair of his head fall on his forehead then it should
be pushed back.
718. If one feels that one has some obstruction on his forehead or on
the palm or back of his hands, an obstruction commonly known to be so, then
one should verify and ensure that the obstruction is removed.
719. If the obligation of a person is tayammum but he cannot perform
it himself he should solicit assistance. And the one who assists should make
him perform tayammum with his own hands. However, if this is not possible the
assistant should strike his hands on a thing on which it is lawful to perform
tayammum and then wipe it on the person's forehead and hands.
In the first
instance, the Niyyat for tayammum by the person himself will be sufficient,
but, as an obligatory precaution, both he and his assistant should make the
Niyyat in both the cases.
720. If a man doubts while performing tayammum whether or not he has
forgotten a certain part of it, after he has passed that stage, he should ignore
his doubt, and if that stage has not yet passed, he should perform that part.
721. If, after wiping the left hand, a man doubts whether or not he
has performed his tayammum correctly his tayammum is valid. But if his doubt
is about the wiping of the left hand and if it cannot be said that he has passed
that stage, he should wipe the left hand.
722. A person whose obligation is tayammum and if he does not hope to
be relieved of his excuse during the entire time of Namaz, he can do tayammum.
However, if he performs tayammum for some other obligatory or Mustahab act and
his excuse (on account of which his religious obligation is tayammum) continues
till the time for prayers sets in, he can offer his prayers with that
tayammum.
723. If a person whose obligation is tayammum knows that his excuse
will continue till the end of the time of Namaz, and has no hope for its
removal, he can offer prayers with tayammum even during the early part of the
time. But, if he knows that his excuse will cease to exist by the end of the
time he should wait and offer prayers with Wudhu or Ghusl as the case may be.
In fact, if he has a glimmer of hope that his excuse might be removed near
the end of Namaz time, it will not be permissible for him to do tayammum and
pray, until he loses hope altogether.
724. If a person, who cannot perform Wudhu or Ghusl, is sure, or
considers it probable, that his excuse will not be removed, he can offer the
Qadha of his past prayers with tayammum. However, if his excuse is removed
afterwards, as a recommended precaution, he should offer those prayers again
with Wudhu or Ghusl. And if he does not lose all hope about the removal of the
excuse, he cannot do tayammum to give Qadha prayers.
725. It is permissible for a person, who cannot do Ghusl or Wudhu, to
offer with tayammum the daily Mustahab prayers for which the time is fixed.
However, if he has hope that his excuse may cease to exist before the time for
prayers is over then, as an obligatory precaution, he should not offer the
Mustahab prayers during the earlier part of their time.
726. If a person does Ghusl in state of Jabira, and performs tayammum
as a measure of precaution, and after having prayed he experiences a minor
hadath (an act which breaks Wudhu, like passing wind or urinating), he should
do Wudhu for subsequent prayers. And if that hadath had occurred before he had
prayed, he should do Wudhu for that also.
727. If a person performs tayammum on account of non-availability of
water or because of some other excuse his tayammum becomes void as soon as that
excuse ceases to exist.
728. The things which invalidate Wudhu invalidate the tayammum
performed instead of Wudhu also. Similarly, the things which invalidate Ghusl
invalidate the tayammum performed instead of Ghusl also.
729. If one has upon him several wajib Ghusls, but he cannot do them,
it is permissible for him to perform one tayammum instead of all those Ghusls,
but the recommended precaution is that for each of those Ghusls he should
perform a separate tayammum.
730. If a person who cannot do Ghusl wishes to perform an act for
which Ghusl is obligatory, he should perform tayammum for Ghusl. And a person
who cannot perform Wudhu wishes to perform an act for which Wudhu is
obligatory, he should perform tayammum instead of Wudhu.
731. If a person performs tayammum instead of Ghusl of Janabat it is
not necessary for him to perform Wudhu for offering prayers. However, if he
performs tayammum instead of other Ghusls, then as recommended precaution, he
should do Wudhu also. And if he cannot do Wudhu, he should do another tayammum
instead of Wudhu.
732. If a person performs tayammum instead of Ghusl of Janabat and
later he commits acts which makes Wudhu void, and if he still cannot do Ghusl
for later prayers, he should do Wudhu, and as per recommended precaution,
perform tayammum also. And if he cannot do Wudhu, then as a recommended
precaution, he should do tayammum with a hope that his responsibility is
discharged.
733. If a person whose obligation is to perform tayammum instead of
Wudhu or Ghusl so as to fulfil, for example, an act like offering prayers,and
if in the first tayammum he makes a Niyyat to perform it instead of Wudhu, or
instead of Ghusl and performs the second tayammum with the Niyyat of carrying
out his religious obligation, it is sufficient.
734. If a person whose obligation is tayammum performs tayammum for
an act, he can perform all those acts which should be done with Wudhu or Ghusl,
as long as his tayammum and the excuse remain. However, if his excuse was
shortage of Namaz time, or if he performed tayammum for Namaz-e-Mayyit or to
go to sleep in spite of water being available, then his tayammum is valid for
its intention and purpose only.
735. In some cases it is better that a person should give Qadha for
the prayers which he offered with tayammum:
When he was afraid of harm caused by using water and yet intentionally
entered the state of Janabat and offered prayers with tayammum.
When he knew or suspected that he would not be able to procure water and
yet entered the state of Janabat intentionally and offered prayers with
tayammum.
When he did not go in search of water intentionally till the time for
prayers became short and he offered the prayers with tayammum and learnt
later that if he had made a search for water he would have been able to
procure it.
When he delayed offering prayers intentionally and offered it with
tayammum at the end of its time.
When he threw away the water, although he knew or suspected that he would
not be able to get water, and then offered the prayers with
tayammum.