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Fatwa CenterWhen is Tayammum legitimate for a sick person?
Question
There is a sick woman who has been bedridden for three years. She cannot perform Wudhoo’ (ablution) for each prayer. Is she allowed to perform Tayammum (dry ablution)? Knowing that she takes a bath every two weeks with the help of others and this constitutes hardship for her. Please advise. May Allaah Reward you.
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His Slave and Messenger.
If the physician did not tell this sick woman that using water is harmful to her, she is required to perform Wudhoo’ if she is able to perform it always or sometimes. If she is unable to perform Wudhoo’ by herself, a female relative or any other woman should help her perform Wudhoo’. If she finds no one but a woman who will do this for her in return for a charge and she is able to pay it, then she is required to hire that woman. Al-Hattaab 
a Maaliki scholar, said: "If an amputee finds someone to help him perform Wudhoo’, even in return for a charge, he is required to do so, just as he is required to buy water for Wudhoo’. If there is no one to help him perform Wudhoo’ and he is able to use water but without rubbing, he has to perform Wudhoo’ in this way. As such, he performs what he is able to do of the acts of Wudhoo’ and he is pardoned for the others."
Al-Bujayrimi a Shaafi‘i scholar, said: "If one is unable to perform Wudhoo’ because he is an amputee for example, he has to seek someone to help him perform Wudhoo’ even in return for a charge. If he is unable to do so, he is allowed to perform Tayammum and then pray."
You mentioned that this woman takes a bath every two weeks, and this is evidence that using water is not harmful to her. Meanwhile, Tayammum is not allowed just because one experiences hardship in performing Wudhoo’ unless using water is harmful and will cause an illness or the like. If the physician, however, told her that using water all the time for Wudhoo’ is harmful to her, she is allowed to make Tayammum in this case. If she is unable to do so by herself, someone else can help her.
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