He had a wet dream before dawn, then fasted but did not perform the full ritual bath until the time of the afternoon prayer due to the cold; what is the ruling on his fast?

The questioner:
May Allah reward you. The listener, Ahmad A from Jeddah, sent a number of questions. In the first, he says: A man had a wet dream during the pre-dawn meal time and ate the pre-dawn meal, but due to the intense cold, he did not perform the full ritual bath until the time of the afternoon prayer. What is the validity of his fast? Does he have to make up that day or not? Please inform us, may Allah reward you.

The Shaykh:
As for the fast, it is valid. The fast is valid for a person in a state of major ritual impurity, whether he had a wet dream during the day or before dawn. The fast is valid for one who is in a state of major ritual impurity, because it is not a condition for fasting that a person be in a state of ritual purity. However, regarding his statement that he did not pray until the time of the midday prayer, is that correct?

The questioner:
The time of the afternoon prayer.

The Shaykh:
The afternoon prayer. This is a great error. It is obligatory for him to perform the ablution and purify himself with water, and to warm himself using the heating means he has. If the water is very cold, he should heat it using the heating means available to him. If he finds that he has no means to heat the water and cannot bear the coldness of the water, he should perform dry ablution with clean earth and pray. He should perform dry ablution and pray, and not leave the prayer until it exits its time. Yes.