Chapter on Dry Ablution

It is a substitute for purification with water.

Linguistically, tayammum means intending. In the Sacred Law, it means worshipping Allah, Most High, by intending pure earth and wiping the face and hands with it.

It is one of the distinctive privileges of this Ummah, on account of what Jabir narrated from the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him: “I have been granted five things that no prophet before me was granted: I was aided by awe cast into the hearts of my enemies at a distance of a month’s journey; the earth has been made for me a place of prayer and a means of purification; so whichever man of my Ummah is overtaken by the time for prayer, let him pray …” The hadith. (1)

In earlier nations, when people could not find water, they would remain until they found water and purified themselves with it. This caused them hardship and deprived a person of his connection with his Lord. When one’s connection with Allah is severed, the heart becomes hardened and heedless.

The reason for the revelation of the verse concerning dry ablution was the loss of Aisha’s necklace, may Allah be pleased with her, which she wore to adorn herself for the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him. The necklace had been borrowed, and when it was lost, the people remained searching for it. Morning came while they had no water with them, so Allah revealed the verse concerning dry ablution. When it was revealed, they made the camel rise and found the necklace beneath it. Usayd ibn Hudayr, may Allah be pleased with him, said: “This is not the first of your blessings, O family of Abu Bakr.” (2)

His statement, “It is a substitute for purification with water,” means that it is not the original means of purification, because Allah