How does one who lacks water perform the prayer?

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Question:
The listener, Salman Salim Salama al-Rashidi, sent a question saying: We are Bedouin Arabs, and sometimes we run out of water and cannot find anything to wash with. How do we pray?
May Allah reward you with good.

Answer:
Allah the Exalted says:

and find no water, then seek clean earth

فَلَمْ تَجِدُوا مَاءً فَتَيَمَّمُوا صَعِيدًا طَيِّبًا

[Al-Nisa: 43]. So if you are in the desert, or on a journey, and you do not obtain water, you pray with tayammum; because Allah said:

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. Allah does not intend to make difficulty for you, but He intends to purify you and complete His favor upon you that you may be grateful.

وَإِنْ كُنْتُمْ مَرْضَى أَوْ عَلَى سَفَرٍ أَوْ جَاءَ أَحَدٌ مِنْكُمْ مِنَ الْغَائِطِ أَوْ لامَسْتُمُ النِّسَاءَ فَلَمْ تَجِدُوا مَاءً فَتَيَمَّمُوا صَعِيدًا طَيِّبًا فَامْسَحُوا بِوُجُوهِكُمْ وَأَيْدِيكُمْ مِنْهُ مَا يُرِيدُ اللَّهُ لِيَجْعَلَ عَلَيْكُمْ مِنْ حَرَجٍ وَلَكِنْ يُرِيدُ لِيُطَهِّرَكُمْ وَلِيُتِمَّ نِعْمَتَهُ عَلَيْكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ

[Al-Ma'idah: 6].
And he (peace and blessings be upon him) said:

the earth has been made for me a place of worship and a means of purification.

جعلت لي الأرض مسجدًا وطهورًا

Sunan Ibn Majah 567Sahih (Darussalam)

So whenever the time for prayer comes for a Muslim, and he has no water except a small amount for his drinking, or for his food, or for his drinking and the drinking of his livestock, he prays with tayammum. Tayammum is a single strike; he strikes the ground with his hands, then wipes his face and his palms with them. This is tayammum: a single strike on the ground, then wiping the face and palms with it. This strike takes the place of water until he finds water. Yes.

The presenter: May Allah reward you with good.

Source binbaz.org.sa

The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.

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