PURIFICATION SECTION · 127 – THE TAYAMMUM OF AN INJURED PERSON
336 – It is narrated from Jābir (may Allah be pleased with him) that he said: We set out on a journey, and a stone struck one of us and wounded his head. Then he experienced a wet dream. He asked those with him, “Can you find a concession for me to perform tayammum (dry ablution)?” They said, “You are able to use water; we cannot find a concession for you.” So that person performed ghusl (ritual bath), and his wound worsened and he died. When we came to the Messenger of God (peace and blessings be upon him), the incident was reported to him. The Messenger of God (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “They killed him; may Allah kill them! The cure for ignorance is to ask. Should they not have asked when they did not know? It would have been sufficient for him to perform tayammum (dry ablution), then to bind a bandage over his wound and wipe over it, and wash the rest of his body.”
EXPLANATION
Iyy: It means ignorance. This noble hadith indicates that it is reprehensible to give a legal opinion without asking when one should ask about what one does not know. Whether an injured person is in a city or in the wilderness, if ghusl (ritual bath) becomes obligatory, he should bind his wound, wash his other limbs, and wipe over the bandage covering the wound. If wiping would cause harm, then even wiping is omitted. He washes his other limbs. If washing the healthy limbs would cause harm, he performs tayammum (dry ablution). This noble hadith indicates that those who are in a state of major ritual impurity (junub) and are unable to wash their entire body may perform tayammum, wipe over the wound, and wash the other parts. According to the Ḥanafīs, if most of the limbs are wounded, tayammum and washing are not combined. According to the Shāfiʿīs, both tayammum is performed and washing is done. According to the Ḥanafīs, if most or half of the limbs are wounded, tayammum is performed. If only a small part is wounded, the healthy limbs are washed and the wounded parts are wiped. (Bezl al-Majhūd, vol. 3, p. 65; Maʿālim, vol. 1, p. 209) This noble hadith also indicates that it is necessary to wipe over bandages. One should not neglect wiping simply because there is a bandage.
337 – It is narrated from ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿAbbās (may Allah be pleased with him) that he said: In the time of the Messenger of God (peace and blessings be upon him), a man was wounded. Then he experienced a wet dream. He was ordered to perform ghusl (ritual bath), and when he washed, he died. When the incident reached the Messenger of God (peace and blessings be upon him), he said, “Is not the cure for ignorance to ask? They killed him; may Allah kill them.” [239]