TAYAMMUM

If water is not available, you can take to tayammum, i.e., wiping your hands and feet and forehead with earth, and that should be as good as ablution with water.  The translator explains why.  He says that �the main purpose behind ablution and bathing is a religious one and the hygienic one is a matter of secondary importance. . . . Allah has directed us to perform tayammum in case water is not available . . . to retain the spiritual value of ablution as a means of directing us from the mundane activities of life and directing us to the presence of the Lord� (note 579).  There is a verse in the QurAn and eight ahAdIs (714-721) on this subject.  �And if you be ailing or on a journey or one comes from the privy, or you have touched women, and you find no water, then betake yourself to clean earth and wipe your faces and your hands therewith� (QurAn 4:43).

One hadIs tells us of the words of �AmmAr to �Umar: �Do you remember, O Commander of the Faithful, when I and you were in a military detachment and we had had a seminal emission and did not find water for taking bath and you did not say prayer, but as for myself I rolled in dust and said prayer, and when it was referred to the Apostle, he said: �It was enough for you to strike the ground with your hands and then blow the dust and then wipe your face and palms� � (718).

author : ram swarup