What is the ruling regarding the state of purity of one who performs tayammum and then finds water before perform the prayer?

Jurists agree that whoever performs tayammum (dry ablution) and then finds sufficient water for purification, while being able to use it before commencing prayers, his tayammum becomes invalid, and he is required to use water to remove his state of ritual impurity and then perform the prayer.

The scholars unanimously agreed that tayammum is permissible with pure earth, whether for minor or major ritual impurity, as transmitted by Imam Abu Bakr Ibn al-Mundhir in Al-Ijmaʿ (p. 36).

If a person who has performed tayammum finds water that suffices for purification before beginning the prayer, while being able to use it and not needing it for food or drink, then his tayammum is invalidated, and he must use water to remove the ritual impurity before commencing the prayer—whether for the impurity is minor or major—in order for his prayer to be valid.[1] This is based on the hadith of Abu Dharr (may Allah be pleased with him), who narrated that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) said, “Pure earth is the ablution of a Muslim even if he does not find water for ten years; but when he finds it, let him apply it to his skin, for that is better” (recorded by Ahmad in Al-Musnad, and the wording is his, and by Abu Dawud and al-Nisa`i in their Sunan, and by al-Hakim in Al-Mustadrak). This is the position of the four major schools of Islamic law.

 

The ruling

According to scholarly consensus, whoever performs tayammum and then finds sufficient water for purification, while being able to use it before commencing the prayer, his tayammum is invalidated, and he must use water to remove the state of ritual impurity and then perform the prayer.

And Allah Almighty knows best.