Among those who hold this view, some say that one must perform tayammum for each prayer time; others say that one must perform it for each obligatory prayer and may not offer two obligatory prayers with the same tayammum. Some have gone to extremes, saying that one must also perform tayammum for every voluntary prayer. Broadly speaking, this is the well-known position in the schools of Mālik, al-Shāfiʿī, and Ahmad.

They argue that tayammum is a form of purification permitted out of necessity, and that a ruling dependent on necessity is limited to the extent of that necessity. Thus, if someone performs tayammum at a time when there is no need for it, it is invalid, just as it would be if performed when water is available.

They also argue that Allah has commanded everyone who rises for prayer to perform ablution, or tayammum if water cannot be found. The apparent wording of this command would require everyone who rises for prayer to perform ablution or tayammum, as applicable. However, an authentic report establishes that:

“The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, offered all the prayers with a single ablution.”

Muslim related this in his Sahīh. The Sunnah thus establishes that ablution may be performed before the time when it becomes obligatory, whereas tayammum remains subject to the apparent wording of the command. Some explain this by saying that one is commanded to seek water for every prayer, and that this invalidates one’s tayammum. Views similar to theirs have been reported from ʿAlī, ʿAmr ibn al-ʿĀs, and Ibn ʿUmar.

Our argument is that the Quran and Sunnah establish that earth is a means of purification, just as water is a means of purification. The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:

“Clean earth is a means of purification for a Muslim, even if he finds no water for ten years. But when you find water, let it touch your skin, for that is better.”

He thus declared it a means of purification whenever water is unavailable, without qualification. This indicates that it is a means of purification