for the Ẓuhr prayer, for instance, and then does not break his state of purity until ʿIshāʾ, he is not required to repeat the tayammum. Tayammum is not invalidated by the mere passing of time, for it is a legislated form of purification. Allah, the Exalted, says in the Noble Quran: “So wipe your faces and your hands with it. Allah does not wish to burden you; rather, He wishes to purify you” (al-Māʾidah 5:6). This verse establishes that the purification achieved through tayammum is valid.
The Messenger of Allah—peace and blessings be upon him—said: “The earth has been made for me a place of prostration and a purifier (ṭahūran, with the ṭāʾ bearing a fatḥa). Therefore, whenever the time for prayer comes upon any man of my community, let him pray.” In another narration he stated: “Wherever he may be, the earth is his mosque and his means of purification,” meaning that he should purify himself and perform the prayer.
Thus, maintaining ritual purity is one of the crucial matters in establishing the prayer. Part of that maintenance is removing any impurity from your garment, your body, and the surface on which you pray. Purity is required in these three places: the body, the clothing, and the prayer-place.
- With respect to clothing, the evidence is that the Prophet—peace and blessings be upon him—ordered the women who prayed in the same garments they wore during menstruation to remove any menstrual blood that had touched those garments: she should scrape it with her nail, rub it between her thumb and forefinger, and then wash it. On another occasion he prayed with his Companions while wearing sandals; during the prayer he removed his sandals, so the people removed theirs as well,