misgiving is of no consequence.

Know, then, that the purification obtained through tayammum takes the place of water-based purification and is nullified only by whatever nullifies wudu’ or ghusl, or by the disappearance of the excuse that allowed tayammum in the first place. Thus, whoever makes tayammum because water is unavailable and then finds water must purify himself with it, for Allah has made earth a means of purification only when water cannot be found.

In a hadith transmitted by the compilers of the Sunan collections from Abu Hurayrah, the Prophet—peace and blessings be upon him—said: “al-saʿīd al-ṭayyib (clean earth) is the ablution of the Muslim—or, he said, the purification of the Muslim—even if he goes without water for ten years. Yet when he finds water, let him touch his skin with it, for that is better.”

Likewise, al-Bukhari relates in the long narration of ʿImran ibn Husayn concerning the man who kept apart and did not pray with the Prophet—peace and blessings be upon him. The Prophet asked him, “What kept you from praying with us?” He replied, “I became junub and had no water.” The Prophet said, “Use clean earth; it will suffice you.” Later, when water became available, the Prophet—peace and blessings be upon him—handed the man some water and said, “Pour it over yourself,” that is, perform the ritual bath.

These reports show that once water is found, tayammum is rendered void. Praise be to Allah, this is a universally acknowledged rule, even among ordinary folk, who say, “When water is present, tayammum is annulled.”

However, if water is still unavailable and the excuse remains, tayammum serves in place of water-based purification and is not nullified by the lapse of time. So if a traveler who has no water performs tayammum