When can tayammum be done?

When there is no water, or when using it would cause harm (an illness or wound that water would worsen).

Does tayammum replace ghusl?

Yes: the Prophet ﷺ told a man in a state of janabah who had no water: “Use the earth, it will suffice you” (al-Bukhari 344, Muslim 682).

How many prayers can be done with one tayammum?

One tayammum per obligatory prayer for the Maliki, Shafi‘i and Hanbali schools; the Hanafi school allows several prayers with the same one.

How to perform tayammum, step by step

Tayammum replaces wudu or ghusl when there is no water, or when water would cause harm. It is done with clean earth, in a few actions.

Optional: choosing your school hides the actions it does not perform and highlights its view. Nothing is imposed.

Step-by-step mode

Step 1 / 4

Intention

In your heart, resolve to perform tayammum so that you may pray.

Obligatory · all 4 schools

Schools, details and sources

Sources

pillars of tayammum in the 4 schools (islamweb, fatwa 64048)

All the steps

To read the whole guide at once. “Follow from here” opens the step-by-step mode at that step.

1.Intention
In your heart, resolve to perform tayammum so that you may pray.
Obligatory · all 4 schools
Schools, details and sources
Sources
pillars of tayammum in the 4 schools (islamweb, fatwa 64048)
2.Strike the earth
Strike clean earth lightly with both palms, once, then blow on them or shake them to remove the excess.
Obligatory · all 4 schools
Schools, details and sources
One strike is enough for the Maliki and Hanbali schools; the Hanafi and Shafi‘i schools require two (one for the face, one for the arms). The schools also differ on what counts as “earth”: the Shafi‘i school requires soil that leaves dust.
Sources
al-Bukhari 347, Muslim 368 — authentic
al-Bukhari 338 — authentic
one or two strikes: the schools (islamweb, fatwa 12499)
pillars of tayammum in the 4 schools (islamweb, fatwa 64048)
3.Face
Wipe the whole face with your palms.
Obligatory · all 4 schools
Schools, details and sources
Sources
Quran 5:6
al-Bukhari 338 — authentic
4.Hands
Wipe the back of the right hand with the left palm, then the back of the left hand with the right palm, up to the wrists.
Obligatory · all 4 schools
Schools, details and sources
Up to the wrists is the obligation for the Maliki and Hanbali schools (the Maliki school recommends going up to the elbows with a second strike). Up to the elbows, with the second strike, for the Hanafi and Shafi‘i schools.
Sources
al-Bukhari 347, Muslim 368 — authentic
one or two strikes: the schools (islamweb, fatwa 12499)
pillars of tayammum in the 4 schools (islamweb, fatwa 64048)

When is tayammum done?

When there is no water, or when using it would cause harm (an illness or wound that water would worsen).
It replaces both wudu and ghusl.
- al-Bukhari 344, Muslim 682 — authentic
- al-Bukhari 347, Muslim 368 — authentic
For most scholars it is done once the prayer time has begun; the Hanafi school allows it before.
- conditions of tayammum (islamweb, fatwa 12699)

What breaks tayammum

Whatever breaks wudu breaks tayammum; it also ends as soon as water is found, when lack of water was the reason.
- Abu Dawud 332, at-Tirmidhi 124 — authentic
- what breaks wudu (islamweb, fatwa 1795)
One tayammum per obligatory prayer for the Maliki, Shafi‘i and Hanbali schools; the Hanafi school allows several prayers with the same one.
- conditions of tayammum (islamweb, fatwa 12699)

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