The Bedouin’s Situation Regarding Ritual Purity
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Fatwa No. ( 15724 )
Q: We are nomadic Bedouins who move from place to place. We transport water for our camels and sheep using a vehicle dedicated to this purpose, and the water source is about 100 km away from us. When the time for prayer arrives, we perform tayammum and pray; this is because the available water is limited to our needs. Our guide brothers who travel with us have warned us that it is not permissible for us to perform tayammum while water is available , and that the prayer is invalid without wudu’. What is your opinion?
A : The basic ruling is that ritual purity with water is obligatory if water is found and one is able to use it. If one does not find water, or finds it but it is insufficient for his needs and his purification, and there is no nearby water, then he performs tayammum with dust; based on the saying of Allah the Exalted:[Al-Ma'idah 5:6] . As for the one who performs tayammum while he is able to use water, his prayer is not valid, even if the water is transported to him in buckets and is in abundance for his needs and the needs of his livestock.
And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Q: We are nomadic Bedouins who move from place to place. We transport water for our camels and sheep using a vehicle dedicated to this purpose, and the water source is about 100 km away from us. When the time for prayer arrives, we perform tayammum and pray; this is because the available water is limited to our needs. Our guide brothers who travel with us have warned us that it is not permissible for us to perform tayammum while water is available , and that the prayer is invalid without wudu’. What is your opinion?
A : The basic ruling is that ritual purity with water is obligatory if water is found and one is able to use it. If one does not find water, or finds it but it is insufficient for his needs and his purification, and there is no nearby water, then he performs tayammum with dust; based on the saying of Allah the Exalted:
and do not find water, then seek clean earth and wipe over your faces and hands with it
فَلَمْ تَجِدُوا مَاءً فَتَيَمَّمُوا صَعِيدًا طَيِّبًا فَامْسَحُوا بِوُجُوهِكُمْ وَأَيْدِيكُمْ مِنْهُAnd success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.