1/125. Chapter:
Sunan Abi Dawud 322 — Tayammum in Long Absence of Water
The Tayammum
Tayammum for Janabah When Water Is Far Away
Sunan Abi Dawud : 322
Sunan Abi DawudHadith Number 322
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ كَثِيرٍ الْعَبْدِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، عَنْ سَلَمَةَ بْنِ كُهَيْلٍ، عَنْ أَبِي مَالِكٍ، عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ أَبْزَى، قَالَ كُنْتُ عِنْدَ عُمَرَ فَجَاءَهُ رَجُلٌ فَقَالَ إِنَّا نَكُونُ بِالْمَكَانِ الشَّهْرَ وَالشَّهْرَيْنِ . فَقَالَ عُمَرُ أَمَّا أَنَا فَلَمْ أَكُنْ أُصَلِّي حَتَّى أَجِدَ الْمَاءَ . قَالَ فَقَالَ عَمَّارٌ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ أَمَا تَذْكُرُ إِذْ كُنْتُ أَنَا وَأَنْتَ فِي الإِبِلِ فَأَصَابَتْنَا جَنَابَةٌ فَأَمَّا أَنَا فَتَمَعَّكْتُ فَأَتَيْنَا النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَذَكَرْتُ ذَلِكَ لَهُ فَقَالَ " إِنَّمَا كَانَ يَكْفِيكَ أَنْ تَقُولَ هَكَذَا " . وَضَرَبَ بِيَدَيْهِ إِلَى الأَرْضِ ثُمَّ نَفَخَهُمَا ثُمَّ مَسَحَ بِهِمَا وَجْهَهُ وَيَدَيْهِ إِلَى نِصْفِ الذِّرَاعِ . فَقَالَ عُمَرُ يَا عَمَّارُ اتَّقِ اللَّهَ . فَقَالَ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ إِنْ شِئْتَ وَاللَّهِ لَمْ أَذْكُرْهُ أَبَدًا . فَقَالَ عُمَرُ كَلاَّ وَاللَّهِ لَنُوَلِّيَنَّكَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ مَا تَوَلَّيْتَ .
`Abdur Rahman bin Abza Narrated from:
While I was with 'Umar, a man came to him and said: We live at a place (where water is not found) for a month or two (what should we do, if we are sexually defiled). 'Umar said: So far as I am concerned, I do not pray until I find water.'Ammar said: Commanded of the faithful, do you not remember when I and you were among the camels (For tending them)? There we became sexually defiled. I rolled down on the ground. We then came to the Prophet (ﷺ) and I mentioned that to him. He said: It was enough for you to do so. Then he struck the ground with both his hands. He then blew over them and wiped his face and both hands by means of them up to half the arms.'Umar said: 'Ammar, fear Allah. He said: Commander of the faithful, if you want, I will never narrate it. 'Umar said: Nay, by Allah, we shall turn you from that towards which you turned (i.e. you have your choice).
Reference : Sunan Abi Dawud 322In-book reference : Book 1, Hadith 322English translation : Book 1, Hadith 322
Summary of Sunan Abi Dawud Hadith 322
This Hadith explains tayammum for janabah when people live in a place where water may be absent for a month or two. A man asks Umar what to do, and Umar gives his own view. Ammar then reminds him of an earlier event when they had become sexually defiled and Ammar had rolled on the ground. When they came to the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم, he showed that a much easier action was enough. He struck the earth with his hands, blew over them, then wiped his face and hands. The key lesson is that tayammum is a valid form of purification in hardship, and the Prophet’s صلى الله عليه وسلم teaching made the method clear and lighter than Ammar first thought.
What we learn from this hadith
- Tayammum is mentioned in the context of having no access to water.
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم showed a simple way instead of a harsh or mistaken one.
- Ammar carefully recalled what he heard and saw from the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم.
- Scholarly discussion can include different memories and views.
