Chapter of at-Tayammum: Is it a Temporary or an Actual Purification? (Part 2)

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A-The scholars differed on whether at-Tayammum removes impurities or if it’s a temporary measure.

Some of the scholars have stated that at-Tayammum physically removes the impurities (i.e. it is like Wudhoo).

Others were of the view that at-Tayammum is only a temporary measure and it doesn’t physically remove impurities. Once a person finds water or once the time for prayer expires, they must renew their purification – either by doing at-Tayammum again or using water (if they find it).

The correct opinion with al-‘Uthaymeen is the first one based on the following:

-Allaah, the Most High, Said after mentioning at-Tayammum, “Allah does not want to place you in difficulty, but He wants to purify you” [5:6]

-The Hadeeth, “The earth has been made a Masjid and a means of purification.”

The word “Tahoor” here has a Fatha which means it is used to purify by.

-A principle in the Sharee’ah is that if something is used to substitute something else then it takes the same ruling – so water has been substituted by earth so it takes the same ruling.

B-Based on the differences of opinion above, we have various sub-rulings that they differed on:

-If at-Tayammum is only a temporary measure then this means that if at-Tayammum was performed for a Naafilah, then something Waajib can’t be done by it, because the Waajib action is higher than the Naafilah. So if a person makes at-Tayammum to touch the Mushaf then he can’t pray Nafl prayers, because this is higher.

However, the correct opinion is that at-Tayammum is a physical purifier and one is allowed to pray optional prayers do other acts of worship such as reciting from the Mushaf etc.

-If at-Tayammum is a temporary measure then this means that the Tayammum is nullified at the end of the prayer time and must be renewed for each prayer.

Some said that at-Tayammum is valid from one prayer time to the next but they stipulated that it is not allowed to make at-Taymammum during the Makrooh times to pray in.

However, again the correct opinion is that at-Tayammum lifts all forms of impurity and is not nullified except that which nullifies Wudhoo.

-If we say its temporary then one must have the intention of making at-Tayammum as well as having the intention for the action of worship they intend to pray by it also. If this is missing, then the Tayammum is void.

However, al-Uthaymeen says that the correct opinion is that at-Tayammum is not temporary, and once he performs it then he is pure.  

Al-Uthaymeen explains that at-Tayammum carries the same rulings connected to water, however this is in removing spiritual impurities major and minor.

As for physical impurities it doesn’t remove it, but this is the view of the Madhab.

But the correct opinion is that physical impurities aren’t removed by at-Tayammum because there is no textual evidence for this.

Also, removing the state of ritual impurity is an act of worship, whereas removing physical impurities isn’t. Therefore, one must remove impurities with whatever means possible and they don’t need a religious intention for doing this.

The person must try and remove the impurities they have on themselves or on their clothes. If they are unable, then they make at-Tayammum to remove the spiritual impurities but are allowed to pray with the physical impurities until they are able to remove it.