devils, he has done well. If a woman cannot combine the prayers after purifying herself with water, she should combine them after performing dry ablution. Praying with dry ablution within the prescribed time is better than offering the prayers separately or praying in places where prayer is prohibited. If a man or woman can perform both ablution with water and dry ablution, they should do so. If they perform dry ablution alone, however, it suffices according to one of the two opinions transmitted from the scholars.

The position of Abū Hanīfah and Mālik is that purification with water and dry ablution—the original means and its substitute—are not combined; rather, one uses either one or the other. The position of al-Shāfiʿī and Ahmad, however, is that one should wash as much of the body with water as possible and perform dry ablution for the remainder. When performing both ablution with water and dry ablution, either may come first, though beginning with ablution with water is better.

According to the stronger of the scholars’ two opinions, one may offer several prayers with a single dry ablution, just as one may do so with a single ablution with water or a single ritual bath. This is the position of Abū Hanīfah and of Ahmad according to one of the two reports from him, based on the Prophet’s saying—may Allah bless him and grant him peace:

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

When a woman’s menstruation ends, she should take a ritual bath if she can; otherwise, she should perform dry ablution and pray. If her menstruation ends in the latter part of the day, she should offer the noon and afternoon prayers. If it ends in the latter part of the night, she should offer the sunset and night prayers. No one is required to repeat prayers offered with dry ablution.

If a wound is uncovered and can be wiped with water, doing so is better than dry ablution.