The ruling on tayammum (dry ablution with clean earth) when water is nearby

Question:
I ask Allah to reward you. A questioner says that he entered the restrooms to perform wudu' (the ablution for prayer), and the imam began the first rak'ah (a unit of prayer) of the Fajr (the dawn prayer) prayer, so he did not find water, and there was water around him from which he could perform tayammum. He was on his way to al-Madinah, so he performed tayammum and joined the imam in the prayer. What is the ruling on this prayer? Knowing that this happened a few days ago?

Answer:
If the water was near him, it is not permissible for him to perform tayammum, because he is one who has access to water. Allah (Exalted and Majestic is He) says: “Have you not found water, then perform tayammum?” This man has access to water and it is near him, so it is not permissible for him to pray without wudu'. He should go and perform wudu', even if he misses the prayer. If he misses the prayer, he does not pray without wudu'. However, if the water is not near him, he performs tayammum. If he has no water nearby, not in the restrooms, not in the houses, and no one around him to give him water, then he is one who lacks water, so he did not find it, and this is not obligatory for him, so he performs tayammum. May Allah reward you. And regarding this man, he must repeat the prayer if he performed tayammum while water was nearby. If he did not do so, he does not have to repeat the prayer. Yes.