What is Tayammum?
Tayammum (Arabic: تيمم) is an Arabic word that means an aim or purpose. ‘In Islamic law, Tayammum means to wipe the face and hands of a person with the purpose of purification for prayer by using soil, purified sand, or dust.
Allah (swt) says in the Quran
وَإِن كُنتُم مَّرْضَىٰٓ أَوْ عَلَىٰ سَفَرٍ أَوْ جَآءَ أَحَدٌۭ مِّنكُم مِّنَ ٱلْغَآئِطِ أَوْ لَـٰمَسْتُمُ ٱلنِّسَآءَ فَلَمْ تَجِدُوا۟ مَآءًۭ فَتَيَمَّمُوا۟ صَعِيدًۭا طَيِّبًۭا فَٱمْسَحُوا۟ بِوُجُوهِكُمْ وَأَيْدِيكُم مِّنْهُ ۚ مَا يُرِيدُ ٱللَّهُ لِيَجْعَلَ عَلَيْكُم مِّنْ حَرَجٍۢ وَلَـٰكِن يُرِيدُ لِيُطَهِّرَكُمْ وَلِيُتِمَّ نِعْمَتَهُۥ عَلَيْكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ (المائدة: 6)
(But if you are ill, or on a journey, or one of you comes from relieving himself, or you have been in contact with women (sexual-intercourse) and find no water, then make tayammum with clean earth and wipe therewith your faces and hands. Allah does not want to place you in difficulty, but he wants to purify you, and to complete his favour on you, that you may be grateful) (Surah A-Maa’idah:6)
Cases When Tayammum is Allowed
- Cannot find water.
- Not enough water and is needed for drinking.
- Harmful to a person (injured or very sick).
- Very cold and cannot heat.
Note: tayammum takes the place of ghusl or wudoo.
How Tayammum Is Made
- Use clean soil that covers the earth (dirt, sand, dust, etc..)
- Neeyah (intention) to attain Tahaarah.
- Sunnah to say: “Bismillah (بِسْمِ ٱللَّٰهِ)”
- Ammar Bin-Yaser Said:
فضرب النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم بكفيه الأرض ونفخ فيهما ثم مسح بهما وجهه وكفيه (رواه البخاري ومسلم)
“The prophet (PBUH) stroked the earth with his hands, blew in them, then wiped his face and hands with them.” (collected by Bukhari & Muslim)
Note: wipe left hand on right hand up to the wrist, then right hand on left hand up to the wrist.
- Sunnah to blow on them if the earth is dusty.
Acts That Invalidate (Break) Tayammum
- Anything that breaks wudoo or ghusl.
- If water becomes present and could be used.
Allah knows the best. May Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala) guide all of us to His Truth and purify of our intentions, and allow us to enter Jannah together. And may Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala) accept all our good deeds and help us in the cause, forgive our mistakes and make us amongst the Muntaqeen & By His Mercy make us all Inhabitants of Jannah. Ameen ya rabbal’alameen.
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