Man Lā Yaḥḍuruh al-Faqīh

قال الله عز وجل: " وَإِن كُنتُم مَّرْضَىٰٓ أَوْ عَلَىٰ سَفَرٍ أَوْ جَآءَ أَحَدٌۭ مِّنكُم مِّنَ ٱلْغَآئِطِ أَوْ لَـٰمَسْتُمُ ٱلنِّسَآءَ فَلَمْ تَجِدُوا۟ مَآءًۭ فَتَيَمَّمُوا۟ صَعِيدًۭا طَيِّبًۭا فَٱمْسَحُوا۟ بِوُجُوهِكُمْ وَأَيْدِيكُم مِّنْهُ ۚ مَا يُرِيدُ ٱللَّهُ لِيَجْعَلَ عَلَيْكُم مِّنْ حَرَجٍۢ وَلَـٰكِن يُرِيدُ لِيُطَهِّرَكُمْ وَلِيُتِمَّ نِعْمَتَهُۥ عَلَيْكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ.

Allah (swt), the Exalted, said: "And if you are ill, or on a journey, or one of you comes from relieving himself, or you have touched women and you do not find water, then seek clean earth and wipe over your faces and hands with it. Allah (swt) does not intend to make difficulty for you, but He intends to purify you and complete His favour upon you so that you may be grateful." (Surah Al-Ma’idah 5:6).

وَقَالَ زُرَارَةُ: قُلْتُ لِأَبِي جَعْفَرٍ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ أَ لاَ تُخْبِرُنِي مِنْ أَيْنَ عَلِمْتَ وَ قُلْتَ إِنَّ اَلْمَسْحَ بِبَعْضِ اَلرَّأْسِ وَ بَعْضِ اَلرِّجْلَيْنِ فَضَحِكَ وَقَالَ «يَا زُرَارَةُ قَالَهُ رَسُولُ اَللَّهِ صَلَّى اَللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ وَ نَزَلَ بِهِ اَلْكِتَابُ مِنَ اَللَّهِ لِأَنَّ اَللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ قَالَ: « فَاغْسِلُوا وُجُوهَكُمْ » فَعَرَفْنَا أَنَّ اَلْوَجْهَ كُلَّهُ يَنْبَغِي أَنْ يُغْسَلَ ثُمَّ قَالَ « وَ أَيْدِيَكُمْ إِلَى اَلْمَرٰافِقِ » فَوَصَلَ اَلْيَدَيْنِ إِلَى اَلْمِرْفَقَيْنِ بِالْوَجْهِ فَعَرَفْنَا أَنَّهُ يَنْبَغِي لَهُمَا أَنْ يُغْسَلاَ إِلَى اَلْمِرْفَقَيْنِ ثُمَّ فَصَّلَ بَيْنَ اَلْكَلاَمِ فَقَالَ: « وَ اِمْسَحُوا بِرُؤُسِكُمْ » فَعَرَفْنَا حِينَ قَالَ « بِرُؤُسِكُمْ » أَنَّ اَلْمَسْحَ بِبَعْضِ اَلرَّأْسِ لِمَكَانِ اَلْبَاءِ ثُمَّ وَصَلَ اَلرِّجْلَيْنِ بِالرَّأْسِ كَمَا وَصَلَ اَلْيَدَيْنِ بِالْوَجْهِ فَقَالَ: « وَ أَرْجُلَكُمْ إِلَى اَلْكَعْبَيْنِ » فَعَرَفْنَا حِينَ وَصَلَهُمَا بِالرَّأْسِ أَنَّ اَلْمَسْحَ عَلَى بَعْضِهِمَا ثُمَّ فَسَّرَ ذَلِكَ رَسُولُ اَللَّهِ صَلَّى اَللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ لِلنَّاسِ فَضَيَّعُوهُ ثُمَّ قَالَ: « فَلَمْ تَجِدُوا مٰاءً فَتَيَمَّمُوا صَعِيداً طَيِّباً فَامْسَحُوا بِوُجُوهِكُمْ » فَلَمَّا أَنْ وَضَعَ اَلْوُضُوءَ عَمَّنْ لَمْ يَجِدِ اَلْمَاءَ أَثْبَتَ بَعْضَ اَلْغَسْلِ مَسْحاً لِأَنَّهُ قَالَ «بِوُجُوهِكُمْ» ثُمَّ وَصَلَ بِهَا: «وَ أَيْدِيكُمْ مِنْهُ» أَيْ مِنْ ذَلِكَ اَلتَّيَمُّمِ لِأَنَّهُ عَلِمَ أَنَّ ذَلِكَ أَجْمَعَ لَمْ يَجْرِ عَلَى اَلْوَجْهِ لِأَنَّهُ يَعْلَقُ مِنْ ذَلِكَ اَلصَّعِيدِ بِبَعْضِ اَلْكَفِّ وَ لاَ يَعْلَقُ بِبَعْضِهَا ثُمَّ قَالَ اَللَّهُ « مٰا يُرِيدُ اَللّٰهُ لِيَجْعَلَ عَلَيْكُمْ مِنْ حَرَجٍ » وَ اَلْحَرَجُ اَلضِّيقُ.

From Zurarah, he asked Imam Muhammad ibn Ali Al-Baqir (a.s): 'Would you not inform me from where you derived and said that wiping is done on part of the head and part of the feet?' Imam (a.s) smiled and said: 'O’ Zurarah, it was stated by the Messenger of Allah (saws) and it was revealed in the Book of Allah (swt). Allah (swt), the Exalted, said: "So wash your faces" (Qur'an 5:6). Thus, we understood that the entire face must be washed. Then Imam (a.s) said: "and your hands up to the elbows." He connected the hands up to the elbows with the face, so we understood that they must be washed up to the elbows. Then, He separated between the statements and said: "and wipe your heads." Thus, we understood from "your heads" that wiping is done on part of the head due to the use of "bi" (preposition indicating partiality). Then, He connected the feet to the head just as He connected the hands to the face and said: "and your feet up to the ankles." So, we understood, by connecting them to the head, that wiping is done on part of them.' He continued: 'The Messenger of Allah (saws) explained this to the people, but they neglected it. Then Allah (swt) said: "If you do not find water, then seek clean earth and wipe over your faces and hands with it." Thus, when He waived the requirement of wudu for one who does not find water, He replaced some of the washing with wiping, as He said, "with your faces." Then He connected it with: "and your hands from it," meaning from that tayammum, because He knew that not all of the dust would reach the face, as some of it would adhere to part of the hand and not all of it. Then Allah (swt) said: "Allah (swt) does not intend to make difficulty for you," and difficulty means constraint.'"

وَقَالَ زُرَارَةُ قَالَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ: «قَالَ رَسُولُ اَللَّهِ صَلَّى اَللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ ذَاتَ يَوْمٍ لِعَمَّارٍ فِي سَفَرٍ لَهُ «يَا عَمَّارُ بَلَغَنَا أَنَّكَ أَجْنَبْتَ فَكَيْفَ صَنَعْتَ» قَالَ تَمَرَّغْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اَللَّهِ فِي اَلتُّرَابِ قَالَ فَقَالَ لَهُ «كَذَلِكَ يَتَمَرَّغُ اَلْحِمَارُ أَ فَلاَ صَنَعْتَ كَذَا» ثُمَّ أَهْوَى بِيَدَيْهِ إِلَى اَلْأَرْضِ فَوَضَعَهُمَا عَلَى اَلصَّعِيدِ ثُمَّ مَسَحَ جَبِينَيْهِ بِأَصَابِعِهِ وَ كَفَّيْهِ إِحْدَاهُمَا بِالْأُخْرَى ثُمَّ لَمْ يُعِدْ ذَلِكَ.

From Zurarah, he narrates that Imam Muhammad ibn Ali Al-Baqir (a.s), said: 'One day, the Messenger of Allah (saws) said to Ammar while on a journey, "O’ Ammar, it has reached us that you became junub (ritually impure due to sexual discharge). What did you do?" Ammar replied: "I rolled in the dirt, O’ Messenger of Allah (saws)." The Prophet then said to him, "This is how a donkey rolls. You should have done this instead." He then placed his hands on the clean earth, wiped his forehead with his fingers, and then wiped the back of each hand with the other hand, and he did not repeat it ’.

فإذا تيمم الرجل للوضوء ضرب يديه على الأرض مرة واحدة ثم نفضهما و مسح بهما جبينيه وحاجبيه ومسح على ظهر كفيه، وإذا كان التيمم للجنابة ضرب يديه على الأرض مرة واحدة، ثم نفضهما ومسح بهما جبينيه وحاجبيه، ثم ضرب يديه على الأرض مرة أخرى ومسح على ظهر يديه فوق الكف قليلا ويبدأ بمسح اليمنى قبل اليسرى.

When a person performs tayammum for wudu (ablution), he should strike his hands on the earth once, shake them off, and then wipe his forehead and eyebrows, and then the backs of his hands. If the tayammum is for janabah (major ritual impurity), he should strike his hands on the earth once, shake them off, and wipe his forehead and eyebrows. Then, he strikes his hands on the earth again, wipes the backs of his hands up to a little above the wrists, and starts by wiping the right hand before the left.

وَ سَأَلَ عُبَيْدُ اَللَّهِ بْنُ عَلِيٍّ اَلْحَلَبِيُّ أَبَا عَبْدِ اَللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ: عَنِ اَلرَّجُلِ إِذَا أَجْنَبَ وَ لَمْ يَجِدِ اَلْمَاءَ قَالَ «يَتَيَمَّمُ بِالصَّعِيدِ فَإِذَا وَجَدَ اَلْمَاءَ فَلْيَغْتَسِلْ وَ لاَ يُعِيدُ اَلصَّلاَةَ» وَ عَنِ اَلرَّجُلِ يَمُرُّ بِالرَّكِيَّةِ وَ لَيْسَ مَعَهُ دَلْوٌ قَالَ «لَيْسَ عَلَيْهِ أَنْ يَدْخُلَ اَلرَّكِيَّةَ لِأَنَّ رَبَّ اَلْمَاءِ هُوَ رَبُّ اَلْأَرْضِ فَلْيَتَيَمَّمْ» وَ عَنِ اَلرَّجُلِ يُجْنِبُ وَ مَعَهُ قَدْرُ مَا يَكْفِيهِ مِنَ اَلْمَاءِ لِوُضُوءِ اَلصَّلاَةِ أَ يَتَوَضَّأُ بِالْمَاءِ أَوْ يَتَيَمَّمُ قَالَ «لاَ بَلْ يَتَيَمَّمُ أَ لاَ تَرَى أَنَّهُ إِنَّمَا جُعِلَ عَلَيْهِ نِصْفُ اَلْوُضُوءِ.

Ubaidullah ibn Ali Al-Halabi asked Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq (a.s) about a man who becomes junub (ritually impure due to sexual discharge) and does not find water. Imam (a.s) said: 'He should perform tayammum with clean earth (sa’eed), and when he finds water, he should perform ghusl, but he does not need to repeat the prayer.' He also asked about a man who passes by a well but does not have a bucket with him. Imam (a.s) said: 'He is not required to enter the well because the Lord (azj) of the water is also the Lord (azj) of the earth, so he should perform tayammum.'. He asked further about a man who becomes junub and has only enough water to perform wudu (ablution) for prayer; should he use the water for wudu or perform tayammum? Imam (a.s) said: 'No, he should perform tayammum. Do you not see that only half of wudu is required of him?'

ومتى أصاب المتيمم الماء ورجا أن يقدر على ماء آخر أو ظن أنه يقدر عليه كما أراده فعسر عليه ذلك، فإن نظره إلى الماء ينقض تيممه وعليه أن يعيد التيمم، فإن أصاب الماء وقد دخل في الصلاة فليضرب وليتوضأ ما لم يركع، فإن كان قد ركع فليمض في صلاته فان التيمم أحد الطهورين، ومن تيمم ثم أصاب الماء فعليه الغسل إن كان جنبا والوضوء إن لم يكن جنبا، فإن أصاب الماء وقد صلى بتيمم وهو في وقت فقد تمت صلاته ولا إعادة عليه.

If a person who has performed tayammum finds water and hopes to find more water later or thinks he might find it as intended but then struggles to find it, merely seeing the water invalidates his tayammum, and he must repeat it. If he finds water after starting his prayer but has not yet bowed (Rukuh), he should interrupt and perform wudu. If he has already bowed, he should continue with his prayer, as tayammum is one of the forms of purification. If a person performs tayammum and later finds water, he must perform ghusl if he was in a state of janabah or wudu if he was not, but if he has already completed his prayer with tayammum during its time, then his prayer is valid and does not need to be repeated.

وَقَالَ زُرَارَةُ وَ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ مُسْلِمٍ: قُلْنَا لِأَبِي جَعْفَرٍ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ رَجُلٌ لَمْ يُصِبْ مَاءً وَ حَضَرَتِ اَلصَّلاَةُ فَتَيَمَّمَ وَ صَلَّى رَكْعَتَيْنِ ثُمَّ أَصَابَ اَلْمَاءَ أَ يَنْقُضُ اَلرَّكْعَتَيْنِ أَوْ يَقْطَعُهُمَا وَ يَتَوَضَّأُ ثُمَّ يُصَلِّي قَالَ «لاَ وَ لَكِنَّهُ يَمْضِي فِي صَلاَتِهِ فَيُتِمُّهَا وَ لاَ يَنْقُضُهَا لِمَكَانِ اَلْمَاءِ لِأَنَّهُ دَخَلَهَا وَ هُوَ عَلَى طُهْرٍ بِتَيَمُّمٍ» وَقَالَ زُرَارَةُ قُلْتُ لَهُ دَخَلَهَا وَ هُوَ مُتَيَمِّمٌ فَصَلَّى رَكْعَةً ثُمَّ أَحْدَثَ فَأَصَابَ مَاءً قَالَ «يَخْرُجُ فَيَتَوَضَّأُ ثُمَّ يَبْنِي عَلَى مَا مَضَى مِنْ صَلاَتِهِ اَلَّتِي صَلَّى بِالتَّيَمُّمِ.

Zurarah and Muhammad ibn Muslim said: We asked Abu Ja'far (a.s) about a man who does not find water, and the time for prayer arrives, so he performs tayammum and prays two rak'ahs. Then he finds water. Should he invalidate the two rak'ahs, does he interrupt them, perform wudu, and then repeat the prayer? Imam (a.s) said: 'No, he should continue his prayer and complete it, and the presence of water does not invalidate it because he entered into it while in a state of purity through tayammum.' Zurarah also said: I asked him about a person who entered the prayer with tayammum, prayed one rak'ah, then broke his wudu and now has also found water. Imam (a.s) said: 'He should go out, perform wudu, and then continue from where he left off in the prayer that he began with tayammum.'

وَ سَأَلَ عَمَّارُ بْنُ مُوسَى اَلسَّابَاطِيُّ أَبَا عَبْدِ اَللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ: عَنِ اَلتَّيَمُّمِ مِنَ اَلْوُضُوءِ وَ مِنَ اَلْجَنَابَةِ وَ مِنَ اَلْحَيْضِ لِلنِّسَاءِ سَوَاءٌ فَقَالَ «نَعَمْ.

Ammar ibn Musa al-Sabati asked Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq (a.s) about tayammum for wudu (ablution), janabah (major ritual impurity), and menstruation for women. Imam (a.s) said: 'Yes, it is the same.'

وَ سَأَلَ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ مُسْلِمٍ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ: عَنِ اَلرَّجُلِ يَكُونُ بِهِ اَلْقُرُوحُ وَ اَلْجِرَاحَاتُ فَيُجْنِبُ فَقَالَ «لاَ بَأْسَ بِأَنْ يَتَيَمَّمَ وَ لاَ يَغْتَسِلَ.

Muhammad ibn Muslim asked Imam Muhammad ibn Ali Al-Baqir (a.s) about a man who has sores and wounds and becomes junub (ritually impure due to sexual discharge). Imam (a.s) said: 'There is no harm if he performs tayammum and does not make ghusl (ritual bath).'

وَقَالَ اَلصَّادِقُ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ: «اَلْمَبْطُونُ وَ اَلْكَسِيرُ يُؤَمَّمَانِ وَ لاَ يُغَسَّلاَنِ.

Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq (a.s) said: 'One who is suffering from a severe stomach illness or has broken bones should perform tayammum and should not perform ghusl (ritual bathing).'.

وَ قِيلَ لِرَسُولِ اَللَّهِ صَلَّى اَللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ يَا رَسُولَ اَللَّهِ إِنَّ فُلاَناً أَصَابَتْهُ جَنَابَةٌ وَ هُوَ مَجْدُورٌ فَغَسَّلُوهُ فَمَاتَ فَقَالَ «قَتَلُوهُ أَلاَّ سَأَلُوا أَلاَّ يَمَّمُوهُ إِنَّ شِفَاءَ اَلْعِيِّ اَلسُّؤَالُ.

It was said to the Messenger of Allah (saws): 'O’ Messenger of Allah (saws), so-and-so became junub (ritually impure due to sexual discharge) and had smallpox, so they washed him and he died.' Imam (a.s) said: 'They killed him! Why did they not ask? Why did they not perform tayammum for him? Surely, the cure for ignorance is asking questions.'

وَ سُئِلَ اَلصَّادِقُ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ: عَنْ مَجْدُورٍ أَصَابَتْهُ جَنَابَةٌ فَقَالَ «إِنْ كَانَ أَجْنَبَ هُوَ فَلْيَغْتَسِلْ وَ إِنْ كَانَ اِحْتَلَمَ فَلْيَتَيَمَّمْ.

It was asked of Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq (a.s) was asked about a man with smallpox who became junub (ritually impure due to sexual discharge). Imam (a.s) said: 'If he became junub (through intercourse), he should perform ghusl, but if he had a nocturnal emission (i.e., he experienced it while sleeping), he should perform tayammum.'.

والجنب إذا خاف على نفسه من البرد تيمم.

And if a person in a state of janabah fears harm from the cold, they may perform tayammum.

وَ سَأَلَهُ مُعَاوِيَةُ بْنُ مَيْسَرَةَ: عَنِ اَلرَّجُلِ يَكُونُ فِي اَلسَّفَرِ فَلاَ يَجِدُ اَلْمَاءَ فَيَتَيَمَّمُ وَ يُصَلِّي ثُمَّ يَأْتِي عَلَى اَلْمَاءِ وَ عَلَيْهِ شَيْءٌ مِنَ اَلْوَقْتِ أَ يَمْضِي عَلَى صَلاَتِهِ أَمْ يَتَوَضَّأُ وَ يُعِيدُ اَلصَّلاَةَ قَالَ «يَمْضِي عَلَى صَلاَتِهِ فَإِنَّ رَبَّ اَلْمَاءِ هُوَ رَبُّ اَلتُّرَابِ.

Mu'awiyah ibn Maythara asked Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq (a.s) about a man who is traveling, does not find water, performs tayammum, and prays. Then he finds water while there is still some time left (for the prayer). Should he continue with his prayer or perform wudu and repeat the prayer? Imam (a.s) said: 'He should continue with his prayer, for the Lord (azj) of the water is the Lord (azj) of the earth.'

وَ أَتَى أَبُو ذَرٍّ رَحِمَهُ اَللَّهُ اَلنَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اَللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ فَقَالَ: «يَا رَسُولَ اَللَّهِ هَلَكْتُ جَامَعْتُ عَلَى غَيْرِ مَاءٍ قَالَ فَأَمَرَ اَلنَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اَللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ بِمَحْمِلٍ فَاسْتَتَرْنَا بِهِ وَ بِمَاءٍ فَاغْتَسَلْتُ أَنَا وَ هِيَ ثُمَّ قَالَ «يَا أَبَا ذَرٍّ يَكْفِيكَ اَلصَّعِيدُ عَشْرَ سِنِينَ».

Abu Dharr came to the Prophet, and said: "O’ Messenger of Allah (saws), I have perished; I had relations (with a women) without water (for ghusl afterwards)." The Prophet then ordered a canopy to be used for covering (privacy) and water for bathing. Abu Dharr said: 'We both (he and his wife) then performed ghusl. Then He (saws) said: "'O’ Abu Dharr, clean earth (tayammum) is sufficient for you for ten years.'

وإذا أجنب الرجل في سفر ومعه ماء قدر ما يتوضأ به تيمم ولم يتوضأ إلا أن يعلم أنه يدرك الماء قبل أن يفوته وقت الصلاة.

If a man becomes junub (ritually impure due to sexual discharge) while traveling and has only enough water for wudu (ablution), he should perform tayammum instead of wudu unless he knows that he will find water before the prayer time expires.

وَ سَأَلَ عَبْدُ اَلرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ أَبِي نَجْرَانَ أَبَا اَلْحَسَنِ مُوسَى بْنَ جَعْفَرٍ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ: عَنْ ثَلاَثَةِ نَفَرٍ كَانُوا فِي سَفَرٍ أَحَدُهُمْ جُنُبٌ وَ اَلثَّانِي مَيِّتٌ وَ اَلثَّالِثُ عَلَى غَيْرِ وُضُوءٍ وَ حَضَرَتِ اَلصَّلاَةُ وَ مَعَهُمْ مِنَ اَلْمَاءِ قَدْرُ مَا يَكْفِي أَحَدَهُمْ مَنْ يَأْخُذُ اَلْمَاءَ وَ كَيْفَ يَصْنَعُونَ فَقَالَ «يَغْتَسِلُ اَلْجُنُبُ وَ يُدْفَنُ اَلْمَيِّتُ بِتَيَمُّمٍ وَ يَتَيَمَّمُ اَلَّذِي هُوَ عَلَى غَيْرِ وُضُوءٍ لِأَنَّ اَلْغُسْلَ مِنَ اَلْجَنَابَةِ فَرِيضَةٌ وَ غُسْلَ اَلْمَيِّتِ سُنَّةٌ وَ اَلتَّيَمُّمَ لِلْآخَرِ جَائِزٌ.

Abdul Rahman ibn Abi Najran asked Abu Al-Hasan Imam Musa ibn Jafar Al-Kadhim (a.s) about three people who were traveling: one was junub (in a state of major ritual impurity), the second was dead, and the third was without wudu (ablution). The time for prayer came, and they had only enough water for one of them. Who should use the water and what should they do? Imam (a.s) said: 'The one who is junub should perform ghusl (ritual bathing). The deceased should be buried with tayammum, and the one without wudu should perform tayammum because ghusl from janabah is a religious obligation, the washing of the deceased is a recommended practice, and tayammum for the other is permissible.'

وَ سَأَلَ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ حُمْرَانَ اَلنَّهْدِيُّ وَ جَمِيلُ بْنُ دَرَّاجٍ أَبَا عَبْدِ اَللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ: عَنْ إِمَامِ قَوْمٍ أَصَابَتْهُ جَنَابَةٌ فِي اَلسَّفَرِ وَ لَيْسَ مَعَهُ مِنَ اَلْمَاءِ مَا يَكْفِيهِ لِلْغُسْلِ أَ يَتَوَضَّأُ بَعْضُهُمْ وَ يُصَلِّي بِهِمْ فَقَالَ «لاَ وَ لَكِنْ يَتَيَمَّمُ اَلْجُنُبُ وَ يُصَلِّي بِهِمْ فَإِنَّ اَللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ جَعَلَ اَلتُّرَابَ طَهُوراً كَمَا جَعَلَ اَلْمَاءَ طَهُوراً.

Muhammad ibn Hamran al-Nahdi and Jamil ibn Darraj asked Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq (a.s) about an Imam leading a group in prayer who becomes junub (in a state of major ritual impurity) while traveling and does not have enough water for ghusl (ritual bathing). Should some of them perform wudu and then lead the prayer in his place? Imam (a.s) said: 'No, rather the junub should perform tayammum and lead them in prayer, for Allah (swt), the Mighty and Majestic, has made the earth (dust) a means of purification just as He has made water a means of purification.'

وَ سَأَلَ عَبْدُ اَللَّهِ بْنُ سِنَانٍ أَبَا عَبْدِ اَللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ: عَنِ اَلرَّجُلِ تُصِيبُهُ اَلْجَنَابَةُ فِي اَللَّيْلَةِ اَلْبَارِدَةِ وَ يَخَافُ عَلَى نَفْسِهِ اَلتَّلَفَ إِنِ اِغْتَسَلَ فَقَالَ «يَتَيَمَّمُ وَ يُصَلِّي فَإِذَا أَمِنَ مِنَ اَلْبَرْدِ اِغْتَسَلَ وَ أَعَادَ اَلصَّلاَةَ.

Abdullah ibn Sinan asked Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq (a.s) about a man who becomes junub (ritually impure) during a cold night and fears for his life if he performs ghusl (ritual bathing). Imam (a.s) said: 'He should perform tayammum and pray, and when he is safe from the cold, he should perform ghusl and repeat the prayer.'

وإذا كان الرجل في حال لا يقدر إلا على الطين يتيمم به فإن الله تبارك وتعالى أولى بالعذر إذا لم يكن معه ثوب جاف ولا لبد يقدر على أن ينفضه و يتيمم منه. ومن كان في وسط زحام يوم الجمعة أو يوم عرفة ولم يستطع الخروج من المسجد من كثرة الناس تيمم وصلى معهم وليعد إذا انصرف. ومن تيمم وكان معه ماء فنسي وصلى بتيمم، ثم ذكر قبل أن يخرج الوقت فليعد الوضوء والصلاة. ومن احتلم في مسجد من المساجد خرج منه واغتسل، إلا أن يكون احتلامه في المسجد الحرام أو في مسجد الرسول صلى الله عليه وآله فإنه إن احتلم في أحد هذين المسجدين تيمم وخرج ولم يمش فيهما إلا متيمما.

If a person is in a situation where they only have access to mud, they should perform tayammum with it, for Allah (swt), the Blessed and Exalted, is more deserving of granting an excuse if they do not have dry clothing or anything they can shake off and use for tayammum. If a person finds themselves in a crowded place on the day of Jumu'ah (Jumu’ah prayer) or on the Day of Arafah and cannot leave the mosque due to the crowd, they should perform tayammum, pray with the congregation, and then repeat (the prayer) once they have left. If a person performs tayammum but had water available and forgot, and prayed using tayammum, then remembered before the prayer time ended, they should perform wudu and repeat the prayer. If someone experiences a nocturnal emission (becomes junub) while in a mosque, they should leave and perform ghusl, except if it occurs in the Sacred Mosque (Masjid al-Haram) or the Mosque of the Messenger (saws). In these two mosques, they should perform tayammum and leave without walking in them except while in a state of tayammum.