What is the ruling on a sick man who is unconscious in a hospital, unable to perform wudu with water, and the hospital does not allow him to bring in soil, nor have they provided him with soil to perform tayammum with?
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The questioner : He says: Your Eminence, what is the ruling on a sick man who is unconscious in a hospital, unable to perform wudu with water, and the hospital does not allow him to bring in soil, nor have they provided him with soil to perform tayammum with? There is no doubt that the beds are clean, so how should he proceed regarding prayer while in this state? And is it permissible for his family to bring in soil secretly without the hospital's knowledge? And what is your advice to those in charge of hospitals regarding this matter, given the cooperation involved?
The Shaykh : What I understand is that hospitals do not prevent the bringing in of soil. Some hospitals used to prevent that, but what I understand and know now is that they do not prevent it. In that case, the problem is resolved. But if a person is in a hospital that prevents the bringing in of soil, and the patient is unable to perform wudu, and all the beds are clean with no dust on them, then he prays without wudu and without tayammum. For Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He, says:[Al-Hajj 22:78] And He says: [Al-Baqarah 2:185] And He, Mighty and Majestic, says: [At-Taghabun 64:16] And He, Glorified and Exalted is He, says: [Al-Baqarah 2:286] And this person is unable to do anything other than that, so he prays without wudu and without tayammum. And if Allah the Exalted heals him, he performs wudu or tayammum, and he does not have to repeat what he prayed.
The questioner : Meaning, his family bringing in soil without the hospital's knowledge.
The Shaykh : As for the family bringing in soil, it is not obligatory, because Allah the Exalted said:[Al-Ma'idah 5:1] And He said: And this patient entered the hospital bound by his word or his state to what the regulations of this hospital require. Therefore, bringing in soil is not obligatory, and indeed, it is not recommended to bring in soil secretly.
The Shaykh : What I understand is that hospitals do not prevent the bringing in of soil. Some hospitals used to prevent that, but what I understand and know now is that they do not prevent it. In that case, the problem is resolved. But if a person is in a hospital that prevents the bringing in of soil, and the patient is unable to perform wudu, and all the beds are clean with no dust on them, then he prays without wudu and without tayammum. For Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He, says:
has not placed upon you in the religion any difficulty
ما جعل عليكم في الدين من حرجAllah intends for you ease
يريد الله بكم اليسرSo fear Allah as much as you are able
فاتقوا الله ما استطعتمAllah does not charge a soul except [with that within] its capacity
لا يكلف الله نفسا إلا وسعهاThe questioner : Meaning, his family bringing in soil without the hospital's knowledge.
The Shaykh : As for the family bringing in soil, it is not obligatory, because Allah the Exalted said: