If a person is in a state of major ritual impurity (janabah) and is able to wash some of their limbs but not others, should they perform tayammum for the parts they cannot wash and suffice with ablution (wudu) for prayer, or is it obligatory for them to perform tayammum along with ablution for every prayer? And is it permissible to suffice with tayammum in cases of extreme cold, by analogy with the action of Amr ibn al-Aas – may Allah be pleased with him – in the Battle of Dhat al-Salasil?

Answer Summary:

If a woman's menstruation ceases and she is unable to wash a part of her body due to surgery, she must wash what she can, wipe over the wound if it has a splint or cast, then perform tayammum (dry ablution) and pray. If she incurs a minor hadath (ritual impurity that does not necessitate ghusl), she only needs to perform wudu' (ablution) and tayammum. The tayammum in this case is a substitute for the area of the wound where the major hadath has not been lifted.

If she does not incur a minor hadath after the first prayer and performs tayammum for the wound area, she can pray other obligatory prayers with that tayammum alone. However, if she does incur a hadath, she must perform wudu' and tayammum.

Regarding inability to use water due to cold, the accountable person must wash what they can of their body and perform tayammum for the rest, based on the Almighty's saying: ﴿So fear Allah as much as you are able﴾ [At-Taghabun: 16] 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." The hadith of Amr ibn al-Aas (may Allah be pleased with him) indicates combining water and dust when there is fear of harm, such as fear of perishing. It is not permissible to resort to tayammum except when unable to warm the water and there is harm in washing with it, not merely for potential hardship.