1/125. Chapter:
Sunan Abi Dawud 321 — Tayammum When Water Is Missing
The Tayammum
How to Perform Tayammum When Water Is Not Found
Sunan Abi Dawud : 321
Sunan Abi DawudHadith Number 321
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ سُلَيْمَانَ الأَنْبَارِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو مُعَاوِيَةَ الضَّرِيرُ، عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ، عَنْ شَقِيقٍ، قَالَ كُنْتُ جَالِسًا بَيْنَ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ وَأَبِي مُوسَى فَقَالَ أَبُو مُوسَى يَا أَبَا عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ أَرَأَيْتَ لَوْ أَنَّ رَجُلاً أَجْنَبَ فَلَمْ يَجِدِ الْمَاءَ شَهْرًا . أَمَا كَانَ يَتَيَمَّمُ فَقَالَ لاَ وَإِنْ لَمْ يَجِدِ الْمَاءَ شَهْرًا فَقَالَ أَبُو مُوسَى فَكَيْفَ تَصْنَعُونَ بِهَذِهِ الآيَةِ الَّتِي فِي سُورَةِ الْمَائِدَةِ { فَلَمْ تَجِدُوا مَاءً فَتَيَمَّمُوا صَعِيدًا طَيِّبًا } فَقَالَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ لَوْ رُخِّصَ لَهُمْ فِي هَذَا لأَوْشَكُوا إِذَا بَرَدَ عَلَيْهِمُ الْمَاءُ أَنْ يَتَيَمَّمُوا بِالصَّعِيدِ . فَقَالَ لَهُ أَبُو مُوسَى وَإِنَّمَا كَرِهْتُمْ هَذَا لِهَذَا قَالَ نَعَمْ فَقَالَ لَهُ أَبُو مُوسَى أَلَمْ تَسْمَعْ قَوْلَ عَمَّارٍ لِعُمَرَ بَعَثَنِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فِي حَاجَةٍ فَأَجْنَبْتُ فَلَمْ أَجِدِ الْمَاءَ فَتَمَرَّغْتُ فِي الصَّعِيدِ كَمَا تَتَمَرَّغُ الدَّابَّةُ ثُمَّ أَتَيْتُ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَذَكَرْتُ ذَلِكَ لَهُ فَقَالَ " إِنَّمَا كَانَ يَكْفِيكَ أَنْ تَصْنَعَ هَكَذَا " . فَضَرَبَ بِيَدِهِ عَلَى الأَرْضِ فَنَفَضَهَا ثُمَّ ضَرَبَ بِشِمَالِهِ عَلَى يَمِينِهِ وَبِيَمِينِهِ عَلَى شِمَالِهِ عَلَى الْكَفَّيْنِ ثُمَّ مَسَحَ وَجْهَهُ . فَقَالَ لَهُ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ أَفَلَمْ تَرَ عُمَرَ لَمْ يَقْنَعْ بِقَوْلِ عَمَّارٍ
Shaqiq Narrated from:
While I was sitting between 'Abd Allah and Abu Musa, the latter said: Abu 'Abd al-Rahman, what do you think if a man becomes defiled (because of seminal omission) and does not find water for a month; should he not perform tayammum ? He replied: No, even if he does not find water for a month.Abu Musa then said: How will you do with the Qur'anic version (about tayammum) in the chapter al-Ma'idah which says:"... and you find no water, then go to clean, high ground" (5:6)?'Abd Allah (b. Mas'ud) then said: If they (the people) are granted concession in this respect, they might perform tayammum with pure earth when water is cold. Abu Musa said: For this (reason) you forbade it ? He said: Yes. Abu Musa then said: Did you not hear what 'Ammar said to 'Umar? (He said): The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) sent me on some errand. I had seminal emission and I did not find water. Therefore, I rolled on the ground just as an animal rolls down. I then came to the Prophet (ﷺ) and made a mention of that to him. He said: It would have been enough for you to do thus. Then he struck the ground with his hands and shook them off and then stuck the right hand with his left hand and his left hand with his right hand (and wiped) over his hands (up to the wrist) and wiped his face. 'Abd Allah then said to him: Did you not see that 'Umar was not satisfied with the statement of 'Ammar ?
[2] Al-Mā'idah 5:6.Reference : Sunan Abi Dawud 321In-book reference : Book 1, Hadith 321English translation : Book 1, Hadith 321
Summary of Sunan Abi Dawud Hadith 321
This Hadith focuses on tayammum when a person is in a state of major impurity and cannot find water. Abu Musa asks a direct question about a man who has no water for a long time. The discussion then turns to the Qur’anic wording about clean earth and the report of Ammar. Ammar had rolled on the ground because he did not know the correct way. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم corrected him with a simple method: strike the ground, shake off the hands, wipe the hands, and wipe the face. The main message is that tayammum is not meant to be hard or confusing. It is a clean and simple way to prepare for prayer when water is not available.
What we learn from this hadith
- Tayammum is connected to the situation where water cannot be found.
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم corrected Ammar with a simple practical method.
- Religious questions should be answered with evidence, not only personal concern.
- A person should learn the proper way of purification instead of guessing.
