Tayammum with Dust
Question:
Is it permissible to do Tayammum with dust?
The Fatwa
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
The Answer
It is permissible to perform Tayammum with dust provided its trace or effect can be observed.
The Fiqh of the Answer
Tayammum is a special form of ritual purification legislated for situations where a person is unable to perform Wuḍū'.
Imam al-Qudūrī (d.428 AH) states that it is permissible to perform Tayammum with all types of earth, such as sand, soil, stone, and limestone. [i] This is the view of Imam Abū Ḥanīfa (d.150 AH). Imam Abū Yūsuf (d.182 AH), however, holds that tayammum is only valid with soil and sand. Imam Burhān al-Dīn Ibn Māzah (d.616 AH) mentions that the most correct opinion is that of Imam Abū Ḥanīfa[ii], and Qāḍī Khān (d.592 AH) attributes this same position to Imam Muḥammad (d.189 AH) as well. [iii]
Accordingly, Imam Abū Ḥanīfa allows Tayammum to be performed with dust, whereas Imam Abū Yūsuf does not, since he does not regard dust as soil or sand. The Fuqahāʾ explain that this difference of opinion stems from the interpretation of the Qur’ānic term Saʿīd mentioned in the verse of Tayammum. Imam Abū Yūsuf interprets Saʿīd to mean soil and sand only, while one narration from Qāḍī Khān mentions he restricted it to soil alone[iv]. Imam Abū Ḥanīfa, however, interprets Saʿīd more broadly to include all types of earth, and therefore does not restrict Tayammum to soil or sand. Imam al-Jaṣṣāṣ (d.370 AH) supports this, explaining that Saʿīd refers to the earth in general, which includes soil and other forms of earth upon the ground. [v] He further supports this with the narration wherein the Prophet ﷺ said: “The entire earth has been made for me a Masjid and a means of purification.” Imam al-Kāsānī (d.587 AH) explains the view of Imam Abū Yūsuf (d.182 AH), that he interprets Saʿīd to mean fertile soil capable of producing vegetation, based on the explanation of Ibn ʿAbbās (raḍiyallāhu ʿanhu). [vi] Imam Abū Ḥanīfa (d.150 AH), however, holds that the word Saʿīd linguistically means “that which is elevated,” and thus its meaning cannot be restricted to soil alone; rather, it encompasses all types of earth. Ibn Māzah adds that since Tayammum is valid with the heavier form of earth (soil), it will likewise be valid with its lighter form (dust). [vii]
In conclusion, Mufti Salman Manṣūrpūrī mentions that it is permissible to perform Tayammum with dust, provided its trace or effect can be observed. [viii]
And Almighty Allah Alone Knows Best
Mawlānā Abdurrahman Sidat
Trainee Mufti
Reviewed and approved by
Mufti Asim
Darul Iftaa Mu’adh Ibn Jabal
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[i] ويجوز التيمم عند أبي حنيفة ومحمد بكل ما كان من جنس الأرض كالتراب والرمل والحجر والجص والنورة والكحل والزرنيخ
وقال أبو يوسف رحمه الله: لا يجوز إلا بالتراب والرمل خاصة
(قدوري ١:٧٧,٧٨ )DKI
[ii] ولو تيمم بغبار ثوبه أو غير ذلك، أجزأه في قول أبي حنيفة رحمه الله تعالى .
وكان أبو يوسف رحمه الله تعالى يقول أولا : يتيمم بالغبار إذا لم يجد غيره، ثم رجع . وقال : الغبار عندى ليس من الصعيد. والصحيح قول أبي حنيفة رحمه الله تعالى؛
(المحيط البرهاني ٣٠٩,٣١٠ ادارة التراث الإسلامي لبنان)
[iii] وأما ما يجوز به التيمم عند أبي حنيفة ومحمد : يجوز بجميع ما كان من أجزاء الأرض كالتراب والرمل، والجص، والزرنيخ، والحجر الأملس المغسول ونحوها،
(شرح جامع الصغير ١:٦٢ مكتبة اسماعيل)
[iv] ، وقال أبو يوسف في رواية : لا يجوز إلا بالتراب والرمل، وفي رواية : لا يجوز إلا بالتراب خاصة؛ لقوله تعالى : صَعِيدًا طيبا النساء ٤٣
(شرح جامع الصغير ١:٦٢ مكتبة إسماعيل)
[v] فكل ما كان من الأرض فقد انتظمته الآية (1) . الصعيد: الأرض، والصعيد التراب والصعيد الطريق، والصعيد
ويدل عليه قول النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم: جعلت لي الأرض مسجداً وطَهُوراً ) ، فجعل الأرض طهورا، وهو عموم في سائر أجزاء الأرض (شرح مختصر الطحاوي ٤٢٠ – ٤٢١ دار السلام)
[vi] وَقَالَ أَبُو يُوسُفَ: هُوَ التُّرَابُ الْمُنْبِتُ وَاحْتَجَّ بِقَوْلِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ - رضي الله عنهما - أَنَّهُ فَسَّرَ الصَّعِيدَ بِالتُّرَابِ الْخَالِصِ، وَهُوَ مُقَلِّدٌ فِي هَذَا الْبَابِ؛ وَلِأَنَّهُ ذَكَرَ الصَّعِيدَ الطَّيِّبَ، وَالصَّعِيدُ الطَّيِّبُ هُوَ الَّذِي يَصْلُحُ لِلنَّبَاتِ وَذَلِكَ هُوَ التُّرَابُ دُونَ السَّبِخَةِ وَنَحْوِهَا، (وَلَهُمَا) أَنَّ الصَّعِيدَ مُشْتَقٌّ مِنْ الصُّعُودِ وَهُوَ الْعُلُوُّ، قَالَ الْأَصْمَعِيُّ: فَعِيلٌ بِمَعْنَى فَاعِلٍ، وَهُوَ الصَّاعِدُ .وَكَذَا قَالَ ابْنُ الْأَعْرَابِيِّ: إنَّهُ اسْمٌ لِمَا تَصَاعَدَ، حَتَّى قِيلَ لِلْقَبْرِ صَعِيدٌ لِعُلُوِّهِ وَارْتِفَاعِهِ وَهَذَا لَا يُوجِبُ الِاخْتِصَاصَ بِالتُّرَابِ بَلْ يَعُمُّ جَمِيعَ أَنْوَاعِ الْأَرْضِ (بدائع الصنائع في ترتيب الشرائع, ٥٣:١, تراث)
[vii] . ولأن الغبار تراب، فإن من نفض ثوبه يتأذى جاره من التراب، إلا أنه رقيق، فكما يجوز التيمم بالثخين من التراب فكذا برقيقه
(المحيط البرهاني ٣٠٩,٣١٠ ادارة التراث الإسلامي لبنان)
[viii] اگر لوہا یا لکڑی وغیرہ پر اتنا گرد جم رہا ہو کہ اس پر ہاتھ پھیرنے سے گرد کا اثر ظاہر ہو جائے تو اس پر بھی تیمیم درست ہے۔
(شرح جامع الصغير ١:٦٢ مكتبة إسماعيل)