Tayammum,
the dry ablution:
Definition. Literally tayammum means "aim, purpose." In
Islamic law, it refers to "aiming for or seeking soil to
wipe one's face and hands with the intention of preparing
oneself to pray, and so on."
Proof
of its legitimacy:
This is proven by the Qur'an, sunnah and ijma' (consensus).
The Qur'an says, "And if you are ill, or on a journey, or
one of you comes from relieving himself, or you have touched
women, and you do not find water, then go to high clean
soil and rub your face and hands (therewith). Lo, Allah
is Benign, Forgiving" (an-Nisa': 43). From the sunnah we
have the hadith related by Abu Umamah in which the Prophet,
upon whom be peace, said, "All of the earth has been made
for me and my nation a pure place of prayer. Whenever a
person from my nation wants to pray, he has something with
which to purify himself, that is, the earth." (Related by
Ahmad.) Finally, there is a consensus that tayammum forms
a legitimate part of the shari'ah, as it replaces ablution
or ghusl under specific circumstances.
Blessing
from Allah:
This form of ablution is viewed as a blessing from Allah
to the Muslims. Jabir relates that the Prophet, upon whom
be peace, said, "I have been given five things that were
not given to anyone before me: I have been made victorious
due to fear for a distance of one month's journey; the earth
has been made a place of prayer for me--wherever and whoever
of my nation wants to pray, he may pray; and the war booty
has been made lawfal for me, and this was not lawful for
anyone before me. I have been given permission to intercede.
The prophets used to be raised for their own people only,
but I have been raised for all of mankind." (Related by
al-Bukhari and Muslim.)
The
reason for its legitimacy:
Said 'Aishah, "We went out with the Messenger of Allah on
one of his journeys until we reached Baida'. At this place,
one of my bracelets broke and fell somewhere. The Messenger
of Allah and others began to look for it. There was no water
at that place, nor did anyone have any water with him. The
people went to Abu Bakr and said, "Do you see what your
daughter has done?" Abu Bakr came to me, while the Prophet
was sleeping on my thigh. He blamed me and said to me whatever
Allah willed him to say. He also poked me in my side. I
could not move, for the Prophet, upon whom be peace, was
sleeping on my lap. He slept until the morning without any
water available. Then, Allah revealed the verse of tayammum.
As-Sayyid ibn Hudhain said, 'That was not the first blessing
from the family of Abu Bakr.' The camel that I was on got
up and we found the necklace underneath it." (Related by
"the group," except for at-Tirmidhi.)
