Recognizing the Need for Tayammum

  •  For Muslims, it is required to purify the body through washing before praying and performing salah, or handling and reading the Qur’an.

  • Purification of the body and clothes before prayer is called taharah.
  •  Usually water is required to cleanse one’s body before performing salah. This kind of washing ritual is called wudu, which requires that you clean your hands, forearms, face, head, and feet.
  • There is a more intense cleansing called ghusl that is required after instances of “uncleanliness” (such as sexual intercourse, menstruation, and child birth). Ghusl involves bathing the entire body.
  • Wudu is nullified after any natural discharge (urine, gas, stool, ejaculation), after falling asleep, or after any type of unconsciousness. If one of these things has happened to you, you must perform wudu again before you engage in salah.
  • When acceptable water is not available within a one mile radius.
  • When there is a legitimate fear that an enemy or a dangerous animal is near the water.
  • When using your water for wudu would risk not having enough water to drink later.
  • When there is no means of getting water out of the well (no rope or bucket to draw the water).
  • When using water would be dangerous to your health.
  • When you don’t have enough money to purchase water that is being sold.
  • When water is being sold at an unreasonable price.
  • When there is no trace of water and no person to ask about where to find water.

Determine if you have enough


 acceptable water.