Is it permissible for a sick person (with a cold and high fever) to perform tayammum and pray to exit a state of major ritual impurity without ghusl, if ghusl would worsen their illness?
If a person is in a state of major ritual impurity (requiring ghusl) and fears that using water would worsen an illness or delay recovery, it is permissible for them to perform tayammum, based on the Almighty's saying: "And if you are ill or on a journey or one of you comes from the place of relieving himself or you have contacted women and find no water, then seek clean earth and wipe over your faces and your hands [with it]." In this situation, wudu' does not suffice for ghusl; rather, the substitute is tayammum. Once the impediment is removed, ghusl becomes obligatory to remove the state of major ritual impurity. If a person is able to wash part of their body without harm, they must wash what they can and perform tayammum for the remainder, based on the Almighty's saying: "So fear Allah as much as you are able," and the Prophet's (peace be upon him) saying: "When I command you to do something, do of it as much as you are able."
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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