Tayammum vs. Wudu: Can Tayammum Replace Wudu?

Hi again! Wudu and tayammum are two concepts that are very popular in Islamic legal literacy. Both are methods used to purify the body from minor hadas. However, they are distinct practices. In the context of wudu, the question arises: can tayammum replace wudu?

Regardless of your reason for opening this article, I'm confident you're looking for an explanation about the legality of tayammum as a substitute for wudu. Don't worry; I won't let you down today. Trust me! That is what I will explain in this article. Just read the explanation below until the end!

Main Differences Between Tayammum and Wudu

Hi! First of all, I will explain the main differences between tayammum and wudu. Understanding these differences is essential because it will help clarify the answers to the main topic of this discussion.

As I have mentioned, tayammum and wudu are two different practices. Therefore, to grasp the difference, you must first understand the definitions of both. Below is an explanation of these two concepts.

What Is Tayammum?

If you want to know what tayammum is, consider the definition below:

التَّيَمُّمُ هُوَ : التَّعَبُّدُ لِلَّهِ تَعَالَى بِقَصْدِ الصَّعِيْدِ الطَّيِّبِ لِمَسْحِ الْوَجْهِ وَالْيَدَيْنِ بِهِ

Tayammum is the act of worshiping Allah Taala by using clean earth to wipe the face and hands.

Do you understand? Tayammum involves using clean dust to wipe the face and hands to remove minor hadas as an act of worship to Allah.

What Is Wudu?

If you want to know what wudu is, pay attention to the definition below:

الوُضُوْءُ هُوَ : اِسْتِعْمَالُ الْمَاءِ فِيْ أَعْضَاءٍ مَخْصُوْصَةٍ مُفَتَّتَحًا بِنِيَّةٍ

Wudu is the act of using water on specific parts of the body, initiated with the intention.

Or, the definition of wudu can be stated as follows:

الوُضُوْءُ هُوَ : التَعَبُّدُ لِلَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ بِغَسْلِ أَعْضَاءٍ مَخْصُوْصَةٍ ، عَلَى صِفَةٍ مَخْصُوْصَةٍ

Wudu is worshiping Allah Azza wa Jalla by washing certain parts of the body in a specific manner.

Do you understand? Wudu involves using pure water to wash and wipe various parts of the body to remove minor hadas as an act of worship to Allah.

Read Also: Main Reasons for Performing Tayammum

Now, if you have understood the meanings of tayammum and wudu as I have explained above, you can conclude that the main differences between the two are as follows:

• Tayammum is performed with dust, while wudu is performed with water.
• Tayammum consists of wiping holy dust on the face and hands, while wudu involves washing and wiping several parts of the body, as I have explained in several previous articles.

Can Tayammum Replace Wudu?

Now, I will explain the answer to the main question in this discussion: can tayammum replace wudu? Some Muslims do not fully understand this concept. I assume you don't want to be among them, do you? So, you must read the explanation below carefully.

If you want to know whether tayammum can replace wudu, take a look at the verses of the Quran and some hadiths below:

يٰٓاَيُّهَا الَّذِيْنَ اٰمَنُوْا لَا تَقْرَبُوا الصَّلٰوةَ وَاَنْتُمْ سُكٰرٰى حَتّٰى تَعْلَمُوْا مَا تَقُوْلُوْنَ وَلَا جُنُبًا اِلَّا عَابِرِيْ سَبِيْلٍ حَتّٰى تَغْتَسِلُوْا ۗوَاِنْ كُنْتُمْ مَّرْضٰٓى اَوْ عَلٰى سَفَرٍ اَوْ جَاۤءَ اَحَدٌ مِّنْكُمْ مِّنَ الْغَاۤىِٕطِ اَوْ لٰمَسْتُمُ النِّسَاۤءَ فَلَمْ تَجِدُوْا مَاۤءً فَتَيَمَّمُوْا صَعِيْدًا طَيِّبًا فَامْسَحُوْا بِوُجُوْهِكُمْ وَاَيْدِيْكُمْ ۗ اِنَّ اللّٰهَ كَانَ عَفُوًّا غَفُوْرًا

O 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 for 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. (An-Nisa’ [4]: 43).

Pay attention to the sentence "فَلَمْ تَجِدُوْا مَاۤءً فَتَيَمَّمُوْا صَعِيْدًا طَيِّبًا فَامْسَحُوْا بِوُجُوْهِكُمْ وَاَيْدِيْكُمْ (and if you find no water, then seek clean earth and wipe over your face and hands)" in the Quranic verse above. It clearly states that if you cannot find water for wudu, you can perform tayammum using clean dust.

Below is a hadith about tayammum for a person with a broken hand:

عَنْ عَلِيٍّ رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ : اِنْكَسَرَتْ إِحْدَى زَنْدَيَّ فَسَأَلْتُ رَسُوْلَ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَأَمَرَنِيْ أَنْ أَمْسَحَ عَلَى الْجَبَائِرِ . رَوَاهُ اِبْنُ مَاجَهْ

From Ali radliyallahu anhu, he said, “One of my wrists was broken. I then asked the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alaihi wa sallam, and he told me to rub over the bandage.” This hadith is narrated by Ibn Majah.

Here’s another hadith about tayammum for sick people who cannot be exposed to water:

عَنْ اِبْنِ عَبَّاسٍ رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُمَا -- فِيْ قَوْلِهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ:…وَإِن كُنتُم مَّرۡضَىٰٓ أَوۡ عَلَىٰ سَفَرٍ … فَقَالَ ؛ إِذَا كَانَتْ بِالرَّجُلِ الْجِرَاحَةُ فِيْ سَبِيْلِ اللهِ وَالْقُرُوْحُ ، فَيَجْنُبُ ، فَيَخَافُ أَنْ يَمُوْتَ إِنِ اغْتَسَلَ ، تَيَمَّمَ . رَوَاهُ الدَّارُقُطْنِيُّ

From Ibn Abbas radliyallahu anhuma - regarding the word of Allah Azza wa Jalla, “… and if you are sick or on a journey…” (An-Nisa’ [4]: 43) — he said, “If a man has wounds and ulcers on his body due to fighting in the way of Allah and he is junub, fearing he will die if he bathes, then he can perform tayammum.” This hadith is narrated by ad-Daruquthni.

If you understand the verses of the Quran and the hadiths above, you can conclude that tayammum can indeed replace wudu.

How to Perform Tayammum to Replace Wudu? 

Hi! Are you still with me? I will now provide an answer to one of the most important questions regarding the main topic of this discussion: How do you perform tayammum to replace wudu? It's essential to understand this so that you grasp the mechanics of performing tayammum instead of wudu.

If you want to learn how to perform tayammum, pay attention to the three hadiths below!

عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُمَا قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُوْلُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: التَّيَمُّمُ ضَرْبَتَانِ. ضَرْبَةٌ لِلْوَجْهِ وَضَرْبَةٌ لِلْيَدَيْنِ إِلَى الْمِرْفَقَيْنِ. رَوَاهُ الدَّارُقُطْنِيُّ

From Ibn Umar radliyallahu anhuma, he said, "The Messenger of Allah sallallahu alaihi wa sallam once said, 'Tayammum consists of two parts: one for the face and one for both hands up to the elbows.'" This hadith is narrated by ad-Daruquthni.

عَنْ عَمَّارٍ بْنِ يَاسِرٍ رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ: بَعَثَنِيْ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فِي حَاجَةٍ. فَأَجْنَبْتُ فَلَمْ أَجِدْ الْمَاءَ. فَتَمَرَّغْتُ فِي الصَّعِيْدِ كَمَا تَتَمَرَّغُ الدَّابَةُ. ثُمَّ أَتَيْتُ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَذَكَرْتُ لَهُ ذَلِكَ، فَقَالَ: إِنَّمَا يَكْفِيْكَ أَنْ تَقُوْلَ بِيَدَيْكَ هَكَذَا. ثُمَّ ضَرَبَ بِيَدَيْهِ الْأَرْضَ ضَرْبَةً وَاحِدَةً، ثُمَّ مَسَحَ الشِّمَالَ عَلَى الْيَمِيْنِ وَظَاهِرَ كَفَّيْهِ وَوَجْهِهِ. مُتَّفَقٌ عَلَيْهِ

From Ammar bin Yasir radliyallahu anhuma, he said, "The Prophet (Muhammad) sallallahu alaihi wa sallam sent me for a purpose. I then became junub and found no water. I rolled on the earth like an animal. Then I went to the Prophet sallallahu alaihi wa sallam and mentioned that to him. He said, 'Surely, you just have to do this with your hands.' Then he tapped his hands on the ground once. After that, he rubbed his left hand on his right hand, the outside of his palms, and his face." This hadith is narrated by al-Bukhari and Muslim.

وَفِي رِوَايَةِ الْبُخَارِيِّ: وَضَرَبَ بِكَفَّيْهِ الْأَرْضَ وَنَفَخَ فِيْهِمَا ثُمَّ مَسَحَ بِهِمَا وَجْهَهُ وَكَفَّيْهِ.

In the hadith narrated by al-Bukhari, it is explained, "He tapped his palms on the earth and then blew (the dust) into his palms. Then he rubbed his face and his palms with both hands."

If you have understood the three hadiths above, you can conclude that the procedure for performing tayammum is as follows:

• Place both palms on the clean dust and then rub them on your face.
• Place both palms again on the clean dust and then rub them on both hands up to the elbows.

One Tayammum to Replace How Many Wudu?

Now I will explain the last question related to the main topic of this discussion: How many wudu can one tayammum replace? You should understand this by now for a clearer understanding after reading this article.

Read Also: How Long Is Tayammum Valid?

If you want to know how many wudu one tayammum can replace, pay attention to the words of Ibn Abbas below!

عَنْ اِبْنِ عَبَّاسٍ رَضِيَ اللهُ تَعَالَى عَنْهُ قَالَ: مِنَ السُّنَّةِ أَنْ لَا يُصَلِّيَ الرُّجُلُ بِالتَّيَمُّمِ إِلَّا صَلَاةً وَاحِدَةً، ثُمَّ يَتَيَمَّمُ لِلصَّلَاةِ الْأُخْرَى. رَوَاهُ الدَّارُقُطْنِيُّ

From Ibn Abbas radliyallahu Taala anhu, he said, "It is from the Sunnah that a man does not pray using tayammum except for one prayer; then he performs tayammum again for another prayer."

If you understand what Ibn Abbas said above, you can conclude that one tayammum is sufficient for one wudu. In other words, if you perform tayammum for the Maghrib prayer, you must perform tayammum again for the Isha prayer, and so on.

Do you have a question? Please write in the comment section!