Is a Fresh Dry Ablution Required for Each Obligatory Prayer?
Shafi'i Fiqh
Answered by Shaykh Irshaad Sedick
Question
If someone performs tayammum (Dry Ablution) after the Zuhr prayer time begins and prays Zuhr, do they need to perform a new tayammum for the Asr prayer?
Answer
In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate. May Allah alleviate our difficulties and guide us to what pleases Him. Amin.
Our scholars have differed on this issue. According to the Shafi‘i School, only one obligatory prayer may be offered with one dry ablution, and Allah knows best.
Multiple Obligatory Prayers Allowed with One Dry Ablution
Some scholars, including Imam Ahmad in one of the more well-known narrations, Al-Hasan Al-Basri, Abu Hanifa, Ibn Al-Musayyib, and Al-Zuhri, believe that it is permissible to perform two obligatory prayers with one tayammum, or more, as long as the person does not nullify their ablution through actions that break wudu. [al-Mawsu‘a al-Fiqhhiyya]
They argue that the texts related to tayammum do not specify a restriction to a single obligatory prayer and are generally understood to allow for multiple prayers. They cite hadiths indicating the Earth’s purifying nature for Muslims and the Prophet Muhammad’s (Allah bless him and give him peace) statement, “The Earth has been made for me a place of prayer and a means of purification.” [Nasa’i]
Only One Obligatory Prayer Per Dry Ablution
On the other hand, Imams Malik, Shafi’i, and their followers opine that only one obligatory prayer can be performed with a single tayammum.
This view is attributed to the majority of scholars by Imam Nawawi in Al-Majmu‘ Sharh al-Muhadhdhab and is mentioned by Ibn Mundhir as the opinion of several companions and scholars, including Ali Ibn Abi Talib, Ibn Abbas, Ibn Umar (Allah be pleased with them) Al-Shafi’i, Al-Nakha’i, Qatada, Rabia, Yahya Al-Ansari, Layth, Ishaq, among others. [al-Mawsu‘a al-Fiqhhiyya]
Evidence of the Former View
The proponents of the first opinion argue based on the absence of explicit restrictions in the Quran and Hadith concerning tayammum, indicating its general applicability for multiple prayers.
Evidence of the Latter View
In contrast, those who support the second view cite a tradition from Ibn Abbas (Allah be pleased with him), suggesting that the Sunna is to perform only one obligatory prayer with a tayammum before performing it again for the following prayer, viewing the statement of a companion as authoritative.
I pray this is of benefit and that Allah guides us all.
[Shaykh] Irshaad Sedick
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
Shaykh Irshaad Sedick was raised in South Africa in a traditional Muslim family. He graduated from Dar al-Ulum al-Arabiyyah al-Islamiyyah in Strand, Western Cape, under the guidance of the late world-renowned scholar Shaykh Taha Karaan (Allah have mercy on him), where he taught.
Shaykh Irshaad received Ijaza from many luminaries of the Islamic world, including Shaykh Taha Karaan, Shaykh Muhammad Awama, Shaykh Muhammad Hasan Hitu, and Mawlana Abdul Hafeez Makki, among others.
He is the author of the text “The Musnad of Ahmad ibn Hanbal: A Hujjah or not?” He has been the Director of the Discover Islam Centre and, for six years, the Khatib of Masjid Ar-Rashideen, Mowbray, Cape Town.
Shaykh Irshaad has fifteen years of teaching experience at some of the leading Islamic institutes in Cape Town). He is currently building an Islamic podcast, education, and media platform called ‘Isnad Academy’ and has completed his Master’s degree in the study of Islam at the University of Johannesburg. He has a keen interest in healthy Prophetic living and fitness.
