Tayammum (Dry Ablution)

Definition

Tayammum (تيمم) is the Islamic practice of dry ablution using clean earth or dust when water is unavailable or its use would be harmful. It serves as a substitute for both wudu and ghusl.

Quranic Basis

Allah says: 'And if you are ill, or on a journey, or one of you has come from the place of relieving himself, or you have contacted women and do not find water, then seek clean earth and wipe over your faces and hands with it' (Quran 4:43). This verse establishes tayammum as a divinely granted concession (rukhsah).

How to Perform Tayammum

The person makes intention, strikes the clean earth or surface with both hands, blows off excess dust, then wipes the face with the palms, and wipes the hands up to the wrists. The Hanafi school requires wiping up to the elbows based on their reading of the evidence.

Conditions

Tayammum is permitted when: water is genuinely unavailable after searching, using water would cause illness or worsen an existing condition, or water is needed for drinking and survival. Tayammum is invalidated by all the things that invalidate wudu, plus the availability of water.