Some Verdicts On Tayammum

A person in in a hospital as a patient and is unable to use water for wudu, so he performs tayammum by striking the carpet with his hands. Is his prayer valid?

patient is required to perform wudu’ for prayer in case of ability; but in case of the inability to use water he should use dusty earth for tayammum if it is available; other wise, he can use his bed, the floor or anything else if it is covered in some dust. The Qur’an states that which means: “So keep your duty to Allah and fear Him as much as you can.” [64:16] “Allah does not charge a soul except [with that within] its capacity.” [2:286]

(Islamic verdict by a group of scholars. p1/197)

person whose hand is wounded and cannot let water touch the wound, performs tayammum on account of his wound. Once he forgot and performed the prayer without tayammum. During his prayer, he remembered, so he performed tayammum without interrupting his prayer. What is the status of that prayer, is it valid or invalid?

If one of the wudu’ parts is wounded, and the wound cannot be washed or wiped with water (for water will worsen the wound or delay its cure), then tayammum is required. If he performs wudu’ without washing the wounded area or performing tayammum instead, and enters into prayer, then remembers during that prayer that he has not performed tayammum he is required to perform tayammum and repeat the prayer because the portion of the prayer he performed before tayammum was not valid. Purification is prerequisite to prayer and leaving an organ or part of the parts that are be washed in wudu’ makes the whole wudu’ invalid. “The evidence of that is the instruction of the Prophet of Allah to the man who ( s ) made his wudu and left an area equal to that of a “dirham” (silver coin) untouched by water. The Prophet ( s ) ordered him to repeat his wudu (ablution).”

Since it was impossible to wash or wipe with water that area, it would be required to make use of its replacement, which is tayammum. The Qur’an states: “And if you are ill, or on a journey, or one of you comes after answering the call of nature, or you have been in contact with women and you find no water, perform Tayammum with clean earth and wipe over your faces and hands. Truly, Allah is Ever Pardoning and Forgiving.” [4:43] Ibn Abbas narrated that: “The Prophet ( s ) said about the man whose head had been badly wounded: ‘he could have washed his body except his head, which was wounded’. In Abu Daud’s narration, which he referred to Jabir that the Prophet of Allah ( s ) said: ‘It would have been enough for him to perform tayammum’.” Thus, he is required to do it again. (Islamic verdict by a group of scholars. p1/197)

Wiping Over Splints And Bandages

Splints, bandages and the like should be wiped over with water. Jabir said: “We set out on a journey. One of us was hit with a stone that wounded his head, then he had a wet dream. He asked his companions if it was permissible for him to perform Tayammum. They said: we do not think that you can use earth while water is accessible, so he took a bath and died. When we came back to Allah’s Messenger ( s ) he was told of the story. He said: ‘They killed him! May Allah kill them! Why didn’t they ask if they didn’t know? Inquiry is the cure of ignorance. It would have been enough for him to perform Tayammum, or bandage his wound, wipe over the bandage and bathe the rest of his body.” (Abu Daud Ibn Majah and Daraqutni)

Wiping over splints or bandages is obligatory on performing wudu’ or ghusl instead of washing or wiping the infected part. If a person has a fracture and wants to perform wudu’ or ghusl, he must wash all his wudu’ parts or body respectively. If he fears harm on washing the damaged part, such as the aggravation of illness or pain or delay of healing, he shall move to the phase of wiping over that part or area with water. If the wiping is going to cause harm, he moves to the next phase by bandaging the damaged part and wiping over the bandage. It is not required to perform ablution or ghusl prior to applying the splints or bandages. He continues to wipe over them so long as the damage is there. However, if the damage ceases to exist that area or part must be washed with water.

Some Verdicts On Wiping Over The Splints

  • Are there conditions for wiping over splints, for example: in case they are in excess requirements?
    Wiping over splints should be in accordance with its respective requirements. The area of wudu or pain is not the only area to be covered with splints or bandages, but also the surrounding area needed for fixing the splints; adhesive tape. (Fatawa about wiping over Khuffain, p26)
  • Do these splints and bandages include dressing material, such as gauze, etc?
    Yes, wiping over splints is not the same as wiping over socks, so it has no time limit and can be practiced as long as it is needed. Splints are different than socks and can be wiped in both wudu’ and ghusl. (Fatawa about wiping over Khuffain, p26)
  • How are splints wiped? Should they be covered with wiping or only part of them?
    Yes, they should be covered since the substitute has the same status as that of the original. That is, such as the whole part should be washed the whole splints also should be wiped. As for wiping socks, it is just a concession, and the Sunnah has stated that it suffices to wipe over part of the socks. (Fatawa about wiping over Khuffain, p27)