Fatwa ID: 08643
Written by Alimah Aisha Qureshi
Question:
Why do our ulama say Tayamum on oil bases paint not valid, whilst oil is extracted from the ground, i.e. it is from the genera of the ground
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Answer:
Purification is a fundamental condition for the validity of prayer in Islam. When water is unavailable or harmful, the Sharia’s prescribes tayamum (dry ablution) as a substitute.
The surface must be from the earth or its genus, the surface must have dust that transfers to the hands.
Although oil originates from the earth (e.g., as crude petroleum), once it has been chemically processed into paint, it becomes a manufactured substance and no longer retains its natural, earthy form.
Furthermore, oil-based paint forms a smooth, sealed layer, Does not release dust, and blocks access to the original surface (e.g., the wall or wood beneath). Tayamum cannot be performed on anything that: Does not give off dust and is not recognised as part of the earth’s natural genus.
Painted walls especially with oil-based paint are like wax-coated or polished surfaces and are excluded by analogy. Even if something originates from the earth, it must retain its natural, dusty, solid form to qualify.
Therefore, a person who performs tayamum on such a surface would be considered as having not purified themselves for the validly of the prayer. And their purification is invalid.
References:
فَلَمْ تَجِدُوا مَاءً فَتَيَمَّمُوا صَعِيدًا طَيِّبًا فَامْسَحُوا بِوُجُوهِكُمْ وَأَيْدِيكُم مِّنْهُ
Surah Maida verse 6
ويجوز التيمم عند أبي حنيفة ومحمد رحمهما الله بكل ما كان من جنس الأرض كالتراب والرمل والحجر والجص والنورة والكحل والزرنيخ
Kitab al Hidaya fi Sharh il Bidaya r vol 1 pg 28 Maktab Shamila
إنْ الْتَزَقَ بِيَدِهِ شَيْءٌ مِنْهَا بِأَنْ كَانَ عَلَيْهَا غُبَارٌ أَوْ كَانَ مَدْقُوقًا يَجُوزُ
Badai al Sanai Maktaba Shamila vol 1 pg 54
Only Allah knows best.
Written by Alimah Aisha Qureshi
Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah
Darul Ifta Birmingham
