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Is it permissible for someone in a state of major ritual impurity (junub) who cannot use water due to extreme cold to enter the mosque while awaiting prayer, and then perform tayammum and pray?

1 min readAlso available in العربية

The majority of scholars prohibit a person in a state of major ritual impurity (junub) from staying in the mosque, unless they are unable to perform ghusl (ritual bath), in which case it is permissible for them to stay after performing tayammum (dry ablution). This is based on the Prophet's (peace be upon him) saying: "I do not permit the mosque for a menstruating woman nor for a person in a state of major ritual impurity." If a junub person fears for themselves or their property, or cannot find a place other than the mosque, or is unable to perform ghusl or wudu, they should perform tayammum and then may stay in the mosque. Tayammum takes the place of purification with water when water is unavailable, and it permits what water purification permits. Therefore, it is obligatory for a junub person who wishes to stay in the mosque for prayer to perform tayammum before entering, then pray the obligatory prayer and whatever supererogatory prayers they wish with this tayammum. Abu Hanifa and Ibn Taymiyyah held the view that tayammum takes the place of wudu and ghusl, and is invalidated only by what invalidates them.

Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026

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