The Ruling on Performing Tayammum when Water is available

All praise and thanks be to Allah, and may peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah, and upon his family and Companions and those who followed them. As for what follows:

It has been mentioned to me by some reliable people that some Bedouins perform Tayammum even when they have plenty of water; this is a grave evil, which must be warned against, because the ablution for prayer is a condition for the acceptance of it, so long as water is present, as Allah, the Most High says:

O you who believe! When you intend to offer As-Salat (the prayer), wash your faces and your hands (forearms) up to the elbows, rub (by passing wet hands over) your heads and (wash) your feet up to the ankles. If you are in a state of Al- Janabah (e. after a sexual discharge), purify yourselves (bathe your whole body). But if you are ill or on a journey, or any of you comes after answering the call of nature, or you have been in contact with women (sexual intercourse), and you find no water, then perform Tayammum with clean earth and rub therewith your faces and hands.

And in the Two Sahihs it is reported from the Messenger of Allah that he said:

"The prayer of none of you will be accepted if he breaks wind, until he makes Wudhu'.

Allah, the Most Glorified, Most High has permitted Tayammum and made it to serve in place of Wudhu' whenever water is not available, or the worshipper is unable to use it, due to illness or the like, based upon the above Verse and the Words of Allah, the Most High:

O you who believe! Approach not As-Salat (the prayer) when you are in a drunken state until you know (the meaning of what you utter, nor when you are in a state of Al-Janabah (i.e. in a state of sexual impurity and have not taken a bath) except when travelling on the road (without enough water, or just passing through a mosque), till you wash your whole body. And if you are ill, or on a journey, or one of you comes after answering the call of nature, or you have been in contact with women (by sexual relations) and you find no water, perform Tayammum with clean earth and rub therewith your faces and hands. Truly, Allah is Oft-Pardoning, Most Forgiving.

And it is reported on the authority of 'Imran bin Husain, may Allah be pleased with him, that he said: "We were with the Messenger of Allah on a journey, and he led the people in prayer, but one man remained aside, so he asked him:
"What prevented you from praying? He replied; "I was in a state of Janabah and there is no water." The Prophet said:

You must use the dust (to perform Tayammum), for that is sufficient for you.

From this, it is clear that Tayammum for prayer may not be performed when there is water available and the worshipper is able to use it.

In fact, it is incumbent upon the Muslim to use water for his Wudhu' and his Ghusl wherever he may be, so long as he is able to do so, and he is not permitted to abandon it and content himself with Tayammum in that case, his prayer would not be correct, due to the absence of one of the conditions of its acceptance, which is to perform ablution with water when one is able to do so. And there are many among the Bedouins - may Allah guide them and other travelers who perform Tayammum when they have plenty of water available and it is easily accessible; this is without doubt, a great negligence and a bad deed, and it is not permissible to do it, because it conflicts with the legal evidences. It is only permitted for the Muslim to perform Tayammum if water is far away from him, or he has only a small amount with him which he must keep to preserve his life and those of his family and his animals, and the nearest source is far from him. Therefore, it is obligatory on every Muslim, wherever he may be, to fear Allah, the Most Glorified, Most High in all his affairs and to hold fast to what Allah has enjoined upon him, including the performance of ablution with water, when he is able to do so. Likewise, it is an obligation upon him to avoid what Allah has forbidden for him, including the performance of Tayammum when water is present and he able to use it. I ask Allah that He grant us and all of the Muslims success in understanding His Religion and that He keep us firm upon it, and that He protect all of us from the evil of ourselves and the wickedness of our deeds. Verily, He is Most Magnanimous, Most Generous. And may peace and blessings be upon our Prophet, Muhammad and upon his family and Companions.