ABLUTION SECTION · 126 – Can a person in a state of ritual impurity perform dry ablution (tayammum) if they fear the cold?
Amr ibn As (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated:
During the Battle of Zatus-Saqqa, it was a cold night and I acted as a bath attendant. I feared that if I were to bathe, I would perish. So, I performed tayammum and led those with me in the Fajr prayer. They then related the matter to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings upon him).
The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings upon him) said: “O Amr, did you lead [others] in prayer while being in a state of janabah?” I informed him of the reason that prevented me from performing ghusl, and I had heard the verse: "Do not kill yourselves. Indeed, Allah is Merciful to you." Then the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings upon him) smiled and said nothing.
Abu Dawud said: Abdurrahman ibn Jubayr is from Egypt. He is a freed slave of Harith ibn Huzayfah. He is not the son of Jubayr ibn Nu’aym.
EXPLANATION:
Zatus-Saqqa: The name of a spring behind Wadi al-Qura. This place was named Zatus-Saqqa because the Muslim army went to war there.
The silence and smiling of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings upon him) indicates acceptance. It is a takriri sunnah. If one fears for his life if he were to perform ghusl, he may suffice with tayammum. This is the view of Abu Hanifa, Malik, and Shafi’i. (Bezl al-Majhud)
Amr ibn As's freedman, Abu Kays (may Allah be pleased with him), relates:
Amr ibn As was at the head of a company and narrated the hadith as before, washing his groin and taking ablution like that for prayer, and he led them in prayer. And he related it in this manner. However, he did not mention performing tayammum.
Abu Dawud said:
This narrative was recounted from Hisham and Hasan ibn Atiyyah, and they mentioned “he performed tayammum.”
EXPLANATION
Mağban: This term refers to areas such as the armpits and between the legs.