Section

A further indication that the prescribed order is waived when observing it would require repetition through no negligence on the person’s part is that tayammum (dry ablution) is valid with a single strike of the hands on the ground. This is established by the authentic hadith of ʿAmmār ibn Yāsir—may Allah be pleased with them both—and is Ahmad’s position, without dispute. It is reported in both Sahīh collections through Abū Mūsā and through Ibn Abzā. In Ibn Abzā’s narration:

“Doing this would have sufficed you.” He struck the ground with his palms and blew on them, then wiped his face and hands with them.

Likewise, Muslim’s version of Abū Mūsā’s narration reads:

“Doing this would have sufficed you.” He struck the ground with his hands, shook them off, then wiped his face and hands.

Al-Bukhārī’s version reads:

“And he wiped his face and hands once.”

The jurists of the school differed over how this is to be done. One view is that he observes the prescribed order, wiping his face with the inner surfaces of his fingers and the backs of his hands with his palms. Another view is that this is not obligatory; rather, he wipes his face and the backs of his hands with both hands.