Wednesday 2 September 2015

TAYYAMMUM

TAYAMMUM

Definition
In Arabic, the word Tayammum literally means an
'aim' or 'purpose.' In Islamic Law, it refers to:
'Aiming for or seeking soil to wipe one's face and
hands with the intention of purification and
preparing oneself to pray, and so on."
Proof of its Legitimacy
This act of ritual cleansing is proven by the
Quran, Sunnah (prophetic tradition) and
Ijmaa' (consensus of Muslim scholars). The Quran
says (what means): "…And if you are ill or on a
journey or one of you comes from the place of
relieving himself or you have contacted women
[i.e., had sexual intercourse] and find no water,
then seek clean earth and wipe over your faces
and your hands [with it]. Indeed, Allaah is ever
Pardoning and Forgiving." [Quran 4:43]
From the Sunnah, we have the Hadeeth (prophetic
statement) related by Abu Umaamah in which the
Prophet said: "All of the earth has been made a
pure place of prayer for me and my nation.
Whenever a person from my nation wants to pray,
he has something with which to purify himself,
that is, the earth." [Ahmad]
Finally, there is a consensus that Tayammum
forms a legitimate part of the Sharee'ah (Islamic
Law), as it replaces ablution with water or Ghusl
(ritual bathing), under specific circumstances.
A Blessing from Allaah
This form of ablution is viewed as a blessing from
Allaah to the Muslims. Jaabir related that the
Prophet said: "I have been given five things that
were not given to anyone before me: I have been
made victorious due to fear of a distance of one
month's journey; the earth has been made a place
of prayer for me and a source of purification -
wherever and whenever any member of my nation
wants to pray, he may pray; and the war booty
has been made lawful to me, and this was not
lawful to anyone before me. I have been given
permission to intercede. Prophets before me used
to be sent to their own people only, but I have
been sent to all of mankind." [Al-Bukhaari &
Muslim]
When to Make Tayammum
One is permitted to make Tayammum in any of the
following cases:
1- If one cannot find water or the amount one
finds is insufficient for ablution
'Imraan Ibn Husayn said: "We were with the
Messenger of Allaah during a journey. When he
led the people in prayer, one man stayed apart.
He asked him: "What prevented you from praying?"
He replied: 'I need a ritual bath (because of
having a wet dream) and there is no water.' The
Messenger said: 'Use the soil, for it is sufficient
(i.e. Tayammum).''' [Al-Bukhaari & Muslim]
2- If one is injured or ill
If one is in this condition and thinks that using
water will worsen it (he does not have to be
absolutely sure, but may base his assumption on
past experience or what a knowledgeable person
has told him), he may perform Tayammum.
Jaabir said, "We were on a journey and one of us
was injured. Later, he had a wet dream. He asked
his companions, 'Can I perform Tayammum?' They
said, 'No, not if you have water.' He performed
Ghusl, which caused him to die. When news of
this came to the Messenger of Allaah he said:
"They killed him! May Allaah kill them! Do you not
ask if you do not know? The remedy for ignorance
is to ask. He could have performed Tayammum
and not dropped water on his wound, or wrapped
it with something, then wiped over the wrapping,
and then washed the rest of his body.""
3- If water is cold enough to physically harm the
user
Tayammum is allowed when water is available but
is too cold and cannot be heated, or there is no
public bathroom available. 'Amr Ibn Al-'Aas
narrated that he was once participating in a
military expedition. He had a wet dream during an
extremely cold night, and was afraid that if he
performed Ghusl he would die. He prayed the
morning (Fajr) prayer with his companions. He
then went to the Messenger of Allaah to ask him
about this. The Messenger said: "O 'Amr! Did you
pray with your companions while you needed a
ritual bath?" 'Amr said to the Prophet the verse
(which means): "…Do not kill yourselves [or one
another]. Indeed, Allaah is to you ever
Merciful." [Quran 4:29] The Prophet smiled at this
and did not say anything. [Al-Bukhaari]
4- If water is nearby, but one cannot fetch it due
to fear
If one fears for his life, family, wealth, [for
example, if an enemy (beast or human) is nearby
or if one is a prisoner, and so on], he may perform
Tayammum. This is also allowed if there is water
but one lacks the proper means to get it, or if one
fears some accusation against him if he gets it.
5- If one is saving his water for later use
This could be for dough, cooking, or to remove an
impurity that is not pardonable. Imaam Ahmad
said: "Many of the Companions performed
Tayammum to save their water for drinking." 'Ali
said: "A man who is travelling and becomes
unclean because of sexual intercourse, or a wet
dream, can perform Tayammum if he fears he will
go thirsty. He should perform Tayammum and not
Ghusl." [Ad-Daaraqutni]
6- If one can get water, but fears that the prayer
will be over by the time he gets it
He can perform Tayammum and pray, and does
not need to repeat his prayer (after he gets water)
.
The Soil Used for Tayammum
It must be pure soil: this can be sand, stone,
gypsum, and so on. Allaah Almighty Says in the
Quran (what means): "…Perform Tayammum with
pure soil..." [Quran 5:6] and all scholars of the
Arabic language agree that 'soil' (in Arabic) is
whatever covers the earth, dirt or otherwise.
How to Perform Tayammum
First, one must have the intention to perform
ablution and purifying himself, then he mentions
Allaah's name, strikes the soil with his hands, and
wipes his face and hands up to the wrist, starting
with the right hand. Nothing is more authentic and
clear than what 'Ammaar related. He said: "I once
became sexually impure and had no water, so I
rolled in the dirt and prayed. This was mentioned
to the Prophet who said: "This would have been
enough for you," and he struck the earth with his
hands, blew in them and then wiped his face and
hands with them." [Al-Bukhaari & Muslim]
This Hadeeth shows that one strike of the earth is
sufficient, and one only wipes the arms to the
wrists. It is an act of Sunnah that one who makes
Tayammum with dirt should blow into his hands
first and not make his face dusty or dirty.
What Tayammum Makes Permissible
After performing Tayammum, one is pure and may
perform any of the acts requiring prior ritual
purification, such as praying and touching the
Quran. He does not have to perform it during the
time of prayer, and he may pray as many prayers
as he wishes (unless he nullifies it), exactly as it
is the case with regular ablution. Abu Tharr
reported that the Prophet said: "The soil is a
purifier for a Muslim, even if he does not find
water for ten years. Then, if he finds water, that
is, to make ablution, and so on, it becomes
incumbent upon him to use it." [Ahmad & At-
Tirmithi]

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