I was having a conversation with one of my colleagues, who informed me that tayammum is one of the distinctive features of this Ummah. Is this claim correct? Kindly clarify.

Islamic law seeks to promote ease and remove hardship from those who are legally accountable. Allah Almighty says, “Allah does not intend to make difficulty for you, but He intends to purify you and complete His favor upon you that you may be grateful” (Quran, 5:6) and “Allah intends for you ease and does not intend for you hardship” (Quran, 2:185). Furthermore, the Quran ties religious obligations to a person’s capacity, as Allah Almighty says, “Allah does not burden a soul beyond its capacity” (Quran, 2:286). The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) likewise said, “When I command you to do something, perform it to the extent of your ability” (recorded by Bukhari and Muslim).

Among the manifestations of ease and alleviation of hardship in Islamic law is that tayammum (dry ablution) was prescribed as a substitute for water in ritual purification. It thereby enables the performance of acts of worship that require ritual purification, such as prayer, Quran recitation, the prostration of recitation, and similar acts. Tayammum is only permissible when water is actually unavailable, or when one is unable to use it despite its availability due to illness, fear of harm, or similar reasons. Allah, Almighty says, “And if you are ill or on a journey or one of you comes from relieving himself or you have touched women and do not find water, then perform tayammum with clean earth” (Quran, 5:6).

 

Tayammum is one the distinctive features with which Allah Almighty honored the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) above all other prophets, and through which He favored His Ummah over the previous nations. Jabir ibn ‘Abd Allah (may Allah be pleased with them both) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) said, “I was given five things that were not given to any prophet before me: I was aided with awe cast into the hearts of my enemies from a distance of one month’s journey; the earth has been made for me a place of prayer and a means of purification, so wherever the time of prayer comes upon a man from my Ummah, let him pray; the spoils of war were made lawful for me; every prophet was sent specifically to his people, whereas I have been sent to all mankind; and I have been granted intercession” (recorded by Bukhari and Muslim).[1]

And Allah Almighty knows best.