Can I Perform a Tayamum to Remove My Major Ritual Impurity If I Find Water but No Proper Bathroom?

Answered by Ustadh Tabraze Azam

Question:As salaamu alaykum,

I was in need of ghusl at a place where water and sink was available but no facility for a proper ghusl. I know that tayamum can be done when there is no water but I had water. I just did not have a place to pour itself on me. What should I have done to pray?

Answer: Wa alaikum assalam wa rahmatullah,

I pray this finds you in the best of health and faith, insha’Allah.

The dry ablution (tayammum) would only be valid in the case that you had an excuse for it, such as being distant, at least over a mile or so, from water.

Otherwise, you could have potentially poured water over yourself in a place where people could not have seen you, and whilst keeping your nakedness covered.

But, obviously, the ideal thing to do is to plan ahead such that it wouldn’t cause you to miss your prayer.

And Allah knows best.

wassalam,

Tabraze Azam

Checked & Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani