As for someone who has done what he was commanded to do to the extent of his ability, Allah Most High has said:

“So fear Allah as much as you are able.”

And the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:

“When I command you to do something, do as much of it as you can.”

If someone is awake during the appointed prayer time, but water is so far away that he cannot reach it until the time has ended, he must pray within the appointed time after performing dry ablution, by agreement of the scholars. Likewise, if the cold is severe, cold water would harm him, and he cannot reach a bathhouse or heat water before the time ends, he must pray within the appointed time after performing dry ablution.

Women and men are alike in this regard. If they are in a state of major ritual impurity and cannot take a ritual bath before the time ends, they must pray within the appointed time after performing dry ablution. If a woman’s menstrual bleeding stops during the appointed prayer time, but she cannot take a ritual bath until after that time has ended, she must perform dry ablution and pray within the appointed time. Whoever thinks that praying after the appointed time with purification using water is better than praying within the appointed time with dry ablution is misguided and ignorant.

If someone wakes up near the end of the dawn prayer’s appointed time, and taking a ritual bath would mean that the sun would rise before he could pray, the majority of scholars say that he should take a ritual bath and pray after sunrise. This is the position of Abū Hanīfa, al-Shāfiʿī and Ahmad, and one of the two views in Mālik’s school. According to the other view, however, he should perform dry ablution in this case too and pray before sunrise