What can I use for tayammum?
You can use clean, natural earth for tayammum: soil, dust, sand or stone. All scholars accept clean soil with dust on it. The Hanafi and Maliki schools also allow anything from the earth's surface, like stone or sand without dust, while the Shafi'i and Hanbali schools require actual dust.
What the Quran says
Tayammum is dry purification for when you have no water, or can't use it because of illness. Allah says:
The Arabic word is "sa'id," the surface of the earth. The Prophet ﷺ said that the earth has been made for him a place of prayer and a means of purification (Sahih al-Bukhari 335). The steps themselves are short: see How do I do tayammum?
What all scholars accept
- Clean soil or dust, for example from a garden or a field.
- A dusty surface like a wall, a rock or a car dashboard that really has dust on it.
- A tayammum stone or block (a smooth clay or stone block sold in Islamic shops). Many converts keep one at home or at work.
Where scholars differ
The Hanafi and Maliki schools say anything that is part of the earth works, even without dust: bare stone, sand, gravel, clay, brick, unglazed tile or marble in its natural state. The Shafi'i and Hanbali schools say you need dust ("turab") that sticks to the hands, so a clean polished stone with no dust wouldn't count for them. Both views are respected. If you follow one school, stay with it; if not, using something dusty keeps you safe with everyone.
What you can't use
- Things that aren't earth: wood, plastic, glass, metal, fabric or paper, unless they have a layer of dust on them.
- Food and powders like flour, salt from the kitchen or ash.
- Najis earth: soil where someone urinated or a dog fouled. The Quran says "clean" earth.
Tayammum also works in place of ghusl when water would harm you or can't be found, and for a wound where you can't wet the area. See Can I make wudu with a cast or bandage?
- Use clean, natural earth: soil, dust, sand or stone.
- Clean dust is accepted by all four schools.
- Hanafis and Malikis also allow stone or sand without dust.
- Wood, plastic, glass and food powders don't count unless dusty.
People also ask
Is it haram to urinate in the shower?
No, it isn't haram to urinate in the shower, but scholars call it disliked (makruh). With a drain and running water, rinse well and renew wudu.
Read the full answer →Does burping break wudu?
No, burping does not break wudu. A burp is air from the mouth, not passing wind, and all four schools agree it doesn't cancel wudu.
Read the full answer →Does passing gas break wudu?
Yes, passing gas breaks wudu by agreement of all scholars. Just redo wudu; no istinja or ghusl needed, and mere doubt doesn't break it.
Read the full answer →Does crying break wudu?
No, crying does not break wudu. Tears and a runny nose are pure, and quiet tears in prayer don't break the prayer either. The Prophet ﷺ wept too.
Read the full answer →Can I eat while in janabah?
Yes, you can eat while in janabah. A believer doesn't become najis; the sunnah is to make wudu first, and ghusl is still due before prayer.
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