is already included in the general import of his statement, “upon finding water.” Had he remained silent and not said, “even during the prayer,” we would have said that it is invalidated, because the author’s wording is general. They may mention this in order to dispel the assumption that this case is excluded from the general wording, rather than to indicate a disagreement.
Many scholars hold that tayammum is not invalidated if water is found during the prayer (1). This is also a narration from Ahmad, though it was said that he later retracted it and said: “I used to hold that it is not invalidated, but then the hadiths showed that it is invalidated.” (749)
The evidence for the madhhab is as follows:
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The general meaning of Allah’s saying: “And if you cannot find water, then perform tayammum with clean earth.” [al-Ma’idah 5:6] This person has found water, so the ruling of tayammum is invalidated; and once the ruling of tayammum is invalidated, the prayer is invalidated, because his state of ritual impurity returns.
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The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: “When he finds water, let him fear Allah and let him make it touch his skin.” (2) This person has found water, so he must make it touch his skin, and this entails the invalidation of tayammum.
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Tayammum is a substitute for purification with water when water is unavailable. Once water is found, its status as a substitute ceases, and consequently its ruling ceases. He must then leave the prayer, perform wudu, and begin the prayer anew.
The evidence for the second view is as follows:
- He has begun the intended act and ultimate objective—namely, the prayer—because he performed tayammum.