Conditions for the Validity of Tayammum

Conditions for the Validity of Tayammum

Tayammum is not valid unless all eight conditions are fulfilled.

The First Condition: Intention

The intention is necessary; therefore, Tayammum is not valid without intention.

For the intention of Tayammum that makes prayer valid, one must intend one of three things:

(A): To intend purification from ritual impurity. It is not necessary to specify the particular type of ritual impurity in the intention.

(B): To intend to make prayer permissible.

(C): To intend an act of worship that is specifically intended and cannot be performed without purification, such as prayer and the prostration of recitation.

If someone performs Tayammum with the intention of touching the Mushaf, his prayer is not valid with this Tayammum, because touching the Mushaf is not itself an act of worship; rather, the act of worship is the recitation of the Qur’an.

Likewise, if someone performs Tayammum with the intention of giving the Adhan or establishing the Iqamah, his prayer is not valid with this Tayammum, because the Adhan and Iqamah are not acts of worship that are specifically intended in themselves.

Likewise, if someone performs Tayammum with the intention of reciting the Qur’an while in a state of minor ritual impurity, his prayer is not valid with this Tayammum, because although recitation is an intended act of worship, it is valid without Wudu.
The Second Condition: There must be an excuse that permits Tayammum.
The Third Condition: Tayammum must be performed with a pure substance that is from the category of earth, such as soil, stone, or sand. Therefore, Tayammum is not permissible using wood, silver, or gold.
The Fourth Condition: To wipe the entire face and the hands up to and including the elbows.

The Fifth Condition: To wipe with the entire hand or most of it.

If one wipes with two fingers and repeats it until the area is completely covered, the Tayammum is not valid.

The Sixth Condition: To wipe using two strikes with the palms of the hands.

If one strikes the same place twice, Tayammum is valid.

Likewise, if the soil touches his body and he wipes it with the intention of Tayammum, the Tayammum is valid.

The Seventh Condition: There must not be anything that forms a barrier between the wiping and the skin, such as wax or grease. These substances must therefore be removed before wiping; otherwise, Tayammum is not valid.

The Eighth Condition: There must not be anything that prevents the validity of Tayammum, such as menstruation, postpartum bleeding, or ritual impurity.

If a woman performs Tayammum while menstruating or experiencing postpartum bleeding, the Tayammum is not valid.

Likewise, if someone performs Tayammum while experiencing ritual impurity, the Tayammum is not valid.