The evidence that water must be sought is His saying, Most High:

“If you cannot find water, then resort to clean earth.” [al-Ma'idah 5:6]

One cannot be said not to have found it except after searching for it.

“In his baggage, nearby, and by seeking directions. If he forgets that he is able to obtain it and performs dry ablution, he must repeat [the prayer]. If, by his dry ablution, he intends states of ritual impurity …”

His statement, “in his baggage,” means among the group accompanying him. Rahl means baggage, but what is intended here is the group. Thus, if he knows that there is no water among them, there is no need to search, since that would merely be seeking what is already known and wasting time. But if, for example, he had instructed someone to bring water, and it is possible that the person brought it and placed it among the baggage, then he must search for it.

His statement, “nearby,” means that he must seek water in the vicinity: he should look to see whether there is a well or a pool close by or around him. Nearness has no fixed limit; rather, it is determined by customary practice, which differs according to the times. In our time, cars exist, so what is distant may be considered near. In the past, camels were the available means of transport, so what was near could be considered distant.

He should search within a nearby area such that seeking it does not cause him hardship or cause the time for the prayer to expire.

His statement, “by seeking directions,” means that he must seek water by asking for directions that will lead him to it.

If he has no water among his baggage and is unable to search because of his limited knowledge, or because he would become lost if he left his location, then his obligation is to seek directions: he should ask someone else to direct him to water, whether for payment or free of charge.

If he does not find water among his baggage, nearby, or by seeking directions, then dry ablution is prescribed for him.