restriction—applies only when the qualification is not by way of a descriptive attribute. But when it is qualified by an attribute, it does entail restriction. For example, if you say, “Honor the students,” then say, “Honor the diligent students,” mentioning the diligent here entails restriction because it is a qualification by an attribute. Similarly, if it is said, “Zakah is due on camels,” then it is said, “Zakah is due on grazing camels.” Thus, the qualification here entails restriction. Reflect on this.
The correct view is that tayammum is not restricted to soil; rather, it may be performed with anything found upon the earth’s surface. The evidence for this is as follows:
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Allah says: “Then seek clean earth” [Quran 5:6]. Clean earth includes everything found upon the earth’s surface. Allah, glorified and exalted is He, knows that people pass through sandy, rocky, and earthen lands during their travels, yet He did not single out one kind to the exclusion of another.
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During the expedition to Tabuk, the Prophet ﷺ passed through extensive sands, and it has not been reported that he carried soil with him or that he prayed without performing tayammum...
“Purifying” ...
His statement, “purifying,” is the second condition for that with which tayammum may be performed. It indicates that soil is divided into three categories:
- Purifying.
- Pure.
- Impure.
Just as, in their view, water is divided into three categories (1).
Thus, excluded by his statement, “purifying,” is impure soil, such as soil contaminated by urine,