The things that invalidate ablution also invalidate tayammum. Moreover, tayammum is invalidated when the excuses that allow one to perform tayammum, such as finding enough water for ablution or ghusl, recovery from a disease, and having the possibility to use water, end (Mawsili, al-Ikhtiyar, I, 86).
How is tayammum performed?
Tayammum is the cleansing ritual performed in the form of wiping the face and both arms with clean soil or something of the type of soil to remove the state of ritual impurity in which there is no water or it is not possible to use the water available. It is performed by touching hands on clean soil or something of the type of soil and wiping over face and both arms with these hands. It is stated in the Holy Qur’an, “But if you are ill, on a journey, or have relieved yourselves, or been intimate with your wives and cannot find water, then purify yourselves with clean earth, wiping your faces and hands.” (Nisa, 4:43; Ma’idah, 5:6). The person who is going to perform tayammum makes intention for which type of ritual purification he will perform tayammum (for minor ablution or ghusl). He strikes his hands on a clean soil or something of the type of soil as his fingers are separated from each other, moves his hands back and forth, raises and shakes them off smoothly. He wipes over his entire face with their palms once. Then he strikes his hands on soil again and wipes over right lower arm to the elbow by using the palm of his left hand; then he wipes over his left lower arm to the elbow similarly by using the palm of his right hand.
In which situations tayammum can be performed instead of ablution?
Tayammum is an exceptional practice that substitutes ablution and ghusl under certain circumstances; however, it can only be practiced if there is a certain excuse. Tayammum is performed in place of both minor ablution and ghusl if one cannot find enough water to perform these or he finds the water but cannot use it. The fact that tayammum may be performed when one cannot find water is clearly stated in verses (Nisa, 4:43; Ma’idah, 5:6). Also the hadiths about tayammum confirm the ruling of the Qur’an to perform tayammum when a person cannot find water. Tayammum is performed in the following circumstances: a) If one cannot find enough water for ablution or ghusl, b) Lack of access to water even though there is water, c) If the water cannot be used due to some obstacles such as extremely cold weather or not finding a place to have a bath, d) If it poses a risk to use water due to health conditions, e) If one will get sick, his sickness will exacerbate, or his recovery period will be extended in the event that he has a bath or washes the organs of ablution, f) If one is unable to wash half or more of his body or organs of ablution due to wounds, burns, etc. A person less than half of whose organs are wounded washes his healthy organs and wipes over the wounded ones.
How should we perform ablution?
Wudu or minor ablution is explained as “the practice of washing certain organs with water and applying masah over some others with a wet hand by following a procedure” (Marghinani, al-Hidayah, I, 93-94). The statement in the Holy Qur’an on ablution is as follows, “O believers! When you rise up for prayer, wash your faces and your hands up to the elbows, wipe your heads, and wash your feet to the ankles. And if you are in a state of impurity, then take a full bath. But if you are ill, on a journey, or have relieved yourselves, or have been intimate with your wives and cannot find water, then purify yourselves with clean earth by wiping your faces and hands.” (Ma’idah, 5:6) Prophet Muhammad (saw) practically showed Muslims how to perform ablution (Marghinani, al-Hidayah, I, 102) and also stated that no prayer established without ablution would be accepted in the presence of Allah (Bukhari, Wudu, 2; Ibn Majah, Taharah, 47).
In accordance with its sunnah and recommended acts, minor ablution is performed as follows: (Bukhari, Wudu, 7; Abu Dawud, Taharah, 50) Firstly ablution by intending to perform ablution and reciting Basmalah, start by washing your hands three times up to the wrists by rubbing the spaces between your fingers. Rinse your mouth and draw water into your nose three times with your right hand and blow it out with the help of your left hand. Wash your face three times. Then, wash your right and left lower arms up to and including the elbows three times. Wipe over your head once by wetting your right hand and using palm and inner part of your fingers. Wet your hands again and wipe back of your ear by your thumbs and inside of your ears by index finger or little finger, after that, wipe over on the neck by the back of the both hands together. Wash right foot first, then wash left one up to the ankles starting from fingertips, including ankle bones. Take due care for washing the space between fingers (Kasani, Bada’i, I, 23-25).
