When Tayammum Is Necessary and Finding Water Thereafter

“I heard him (the Imam) (a.s.), say, ‘If you cannot find water and you decide for Tayammum, you must wait until the time (for Salah (prayer)) is about to end. If water is still not available, you do not miss the soil and the ground.’”

“One of the two Imam, ‘Alayhim al-Salam, has said, ‘If during a journey water cannot be found, one must search for water as long as there is time; but when there is fear for losing time, one must then take Tayammum to perform Salah (prayer) during the end of time just before it totally ends. If later water is found, then one is not required to perform Salah (prayer) again; however, Wudu’ is necessary for future.’”

“I once heard abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), say, ‘If means of cleansing (water for Ghusl (bath)) cannot be found after experiencing sexual relation, one must wipe one’s face with (soil for Tayammum) earth, then perform Salah (prayer). When water is found, Ghusl (bath) must be taken and Salah (prayer) so performed is sufficient.’”

“I once asked abu Ja‘far (a.s.), ‘Can a man pray Salaat with one Ablution (Wudhu), (including) all of the night and day prayers’. He said: ‘Yes, for as long as an event does not occur (breaking his ablution)’. I said, ‘Can he pray with one Tayammum, all of the night and day prayers?’ He said: ‘Yes, for as long as an event does not occur (breaking his Tayammum), or he finds water’. I said, ‘Supposing he does find the water and hopes that he would be able to find another water, and if he thinks that he would be to every time, but that is difficult upon him?’ He said: ‘That would break his Tayammum, and upon him is to repeat the Tayammum’. I said, ‘Supposing if he finds the water and already entered into the Salaat?’ He said: ‘Let him leave it for as long as he has not performed a bowing. If it was so that he had performed a bowing, let him continue his prayer, for the Tayammum is one of the two purifiers’.”’

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about a man who cannot find water and with Tayammum begins to perform Salah (prayer); then the boy brings water for him. He (the Imam) said, ‘If he has not yet assumed the position of Ruku‘, he must discontinue his Salah (prayer) for Wudu’, but if he has already assumed Ruku‘ position, he must continue with his Salah (prayer).”’

“I once said to abu ’Abd Allah (a.s.). ‘During a journey if I cannot find water when it is time of Salah (prayer); but it is said that water is nearby. Must I then search in the right and left directions when it is time for Salah (prayer)?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Do not search for water, instead take Tayammum; I fear you may remain behind your companions and you may get lost or be eaten by the beasts.’”

foflowing: “I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about a man who passes by a well but does not have a bucket (to draw water). He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not necessary for him to climb down the well; the Lord of water is the Lord the earth; he must take Tayammum.’”

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about a man who does not have any water (for Wudu’) during a journey, but there is water on the right or left side of the road at a distance of once or twice throwing of an arrow or so. He (the Imam) said, ‘I do not command him to mislead himself and then be endangered by the beasts or thieves.’”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘When you come to a well when you have experienced sexual relation and cannot find a bucket or other means to draw water, you must take Tayammum with soil; the Lord of water and the Lord of the soil is one. Do not climb down the well and destroy people’s water.’”

“I once asked him (the Imam) (a.s.), about a man who during a journey had a certain amount of water but forgot all about it, and with Tayammum performed Salah (prayer). Then he remembered that there was water with him and still there is time for Salah (prayer). He (the Imam) said, ‘He must take Wudu’ and perform Salah (prayer) again.’ I (the narrator) then asked him (the Imam) if Tayammum for one experiencing Hayd (menses) and sexual relation who cannot find water is the same. He (the Imam) said, ‘Yes, it is the same.’”