such as a lavatory. He performs ablution and prays according to his circumstances, but he does not perform dry ablution on account of the impurity.

Or if he fears cold, or is confined in a city and performs dry ablution; or if he has neither water nor earth, he prays and does not repeat the prayer.

His statement, “Or if he fears cold,” means that he fears harm from the cold should he purify himself with water—either because the water is cold and he cannot find anything with which to heat it, or because there is wind that would harm him and he cannot find anything with which to protect himself. In that case, he may perform dry ablution, for Allah, Exalted is He, says: “So fear Allah as much as you are able.” [al-Taghabun 64:16]

But if he finds something with which to heat the water, or with which to protect himself from the wind, then he must use water. If he fears discomfort, rather than actual harm, from using water, he must use it.

His statement, “Or if he is confined in a city and performs dry ablution”: “confined” means that he is unable to use water. A city is a populated town. The author, may Allah have mercy on him, specifically mentioned this because some scholars said that he may not perform dry ablution (1), since he is not travelling and is not without water, as he is in a city. But it may be said that the water available in the city is considered unavailable to him, because he is confined and unable to use it. Thus, water is inaccessible to him, so he performs dry ablution …

If he is confined in a city and finds neither water nor earth, he prays according to his circumstances and does not have to repeat the prayer. Nor may he delay his prayer until he is able to attain one of the two forms of purification: water or earth.

His statement, “Or if he has neither water nor earth, he prays and does not repeat the prayer,” applies, for example, if he is confined in a place where there is neither earth nor water, and he is unable to leave it, and he does not