Answered by: Maulana Syed Johir Miah
Question
Is this correct?
(1) If one is certain that he will not obtain water, he may do tayammum from the beginning of the time?
(2) For one in doubt, he may do tayammum in the middle of the time?
(3) For one hopeful to find water, he only does tayammum at the end of the time?
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Answer:
ويستحب لمن لا يجد الماء وهو يرجو أن يجده في آخر الوقت أن يؤخر الصلاة إلى آخر الوقت فإن وجد الماء توضأ به وصلى وإلا تيمم
It is desirable for the one who does not find water and hopes to find it at the end of the time to delay the prayer until the end of the time. 1
وليس على المتيمم إذا لم يغلب على ظنه أن بقربه ماء أن يطلب الماء فإن غلب على ظنه أن هناك ماء لم يجز له أن يتيمم حتى يطلبه وإن كان مع رفيقه ماء طلبه منه قبل أن يتيمم فإن منعه منه تيمم وصلى
If he does not think it most likely that there is water near him, he does not have to ask for water.
If he thinks most likely that there is water, it is not permissible for him to do tayammum until he asks for it, and if he is with his companion of water that he asked for before he did tayammum, then he prevented him from doing tayammum and prayed. 2
Only Allah knows best
Written by Maulana Syed Johir Miah
Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah
Darul Ifta Birmingham
1 Quduri, page 16, Darul Kutub Al-Ilmiyyah, 1418 H.
2 Quduri, page 16, Darul Kutub Al-Ilmiyyah, 1418 H.