The circumstances in which dry ablution is permissible
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Question: When is dry ablution permissible? What is the ruling on dry ablution when a man is near water?
Answer: Dry ablution is permissible in two cases:
The first case: If one is devoid of water, or if one has water that is not sufficient for one’s need
for drinking, cooking, ablution, the full ritual bath, and other such needs.Meaning: for his dire necessity, then he is considered as one who is devoid of water.
And the second case: The second case is illness. If one is sick and unable to use water for ritual purity, or if using water would increase his illness or cause him another illness, then in these two cases—the absence of water, or the inability to use water due to illness—he is permitted to perform dry ablution.Allah the Exalted said: [Al-Ma'idah: 6] ,And Allah the Exalted said: [An-Nisa: 43] .
These two noble verses indicate that if one does not find water, or finds it but is unable to use it due to illness or a need for water, then he is permitted to perform dry ablution with clean earth. The earth serves as a substitute for the purity of water, and this is part of Allah’s facilitation for this community.
Answer: Dry ablution is permissible in two cases:
The first case: If one is devoid of water, or if one has water that is not sufficient for one’s need
for drinking, cooking, ablution, the full ritual bath, and other such needs.Meaning: for his dire necessity, then he is considered as one who is devoid of water.
And the second case: The second case is illness. If one is sick and unable to use water for ritual purity, or if using water would increase his illness or cause him another illness, then in these two cases—the absence of water, or the inability to use water due to illness—he is permitted to perform dry ablution.Allah the Exalted said:
O you who have believed, when you rise to [perform] prayer, wash your faces and your forearms to the elbows and wipe over your heads and wash your feet to the ankles. And if you are in a state of janabah, then purify yourselves. But if you are ill or on a journey or one of you comes from the place of relieving himself or you have contacted women and do not find water, then seek clean earth and wipe over your faces and hands with it
يَاأَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِذَا قُمْتُمْ إِلَى الصَّلَاةِ فَاغْسِلُوا وُجُوهَكُمْ وَأَيْدِيَكُمْ إِلَى الْمَرَافِقِ وَامْسَحُوا بِرُءُوسِكُمْ وَأَرْجُلَكُمْ إِلَى الْكَعْبَيْنِ وَإِنْ كُنْتُمْ جُنُبًا فَاطَّهَّرُوا وَإِنْ كُنْتُمْ مَرْضَى أَوْ عَلَى سَفَرٍ أَوْ جَاءَ أَحَدٌ مِنْكُمْ مِنَ الْغَائِطِ أَوْ لَامَسْتُمُ النِّسَاءَ فَلَمْ تَجِدُوا مَاءً فَتَيَمَّمُوا صَعِيدًا طَيِّبًا فَامْسَحُوا بِوُجُوهِكُمْ وَأَيْدِيكُمْ مِنْهُO you who have believed, do not approach prayer while you are intoxicated until you know what you are saying or in a state of janabah, except those passing through [a place of prayer], until you have washed [your whole body]. And if you are ill or on a journey or one of you comes from the place of relieving himself or you have contacted women and find no water, then seek clean earth and wipe over your faces and your hands [with it]. Indeed, Allah is ever Pardoning and Forgiving.
يَاأَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لَا تَقْرَبُوا الصَّلَاةَ وَأَنْتُمْ سُكَارَى حَتَّى تَعْلَمُوا مَا تَقُولُونَ وَلَا جُنُبًا إِلَّا عَابِرِي سَبِيلٍ حَتَّى تَغْتَسِلُوا وَإِنْ كُنْتُمْ مَرْضَى أَوْ عَلَى سَفَرٍ أَوْ جَاءَ أَحَدٌ مِنْكُمْ مِنَ الْغَائِطِ أَوْ لَامَسْتُمُ النِّسَاءَ فَلَمْ تَجِدُوا مَاءً فَتَيَمَّمُوا صَعِيدًا طَيِّبًا فَامْسَحُوا بِوُجُوهِكُمْ وَأَيْدِيكُمْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ كَانَ عَفُوًّا غَفُورًاThese two noble verses indicate that if one does not find water, or finds it but is unable to use it due to illness or a need for water, then he is permitted to perform dry ablution with clean earth. The earth serves as a substitute for the purity of water, and this is part of Allah’s facilitation for this community.