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Is it permissible to perform tayammum with a smooth stone, as if it were oiled, bearing in mind that the Malikis issue fatwas allowing tayammum on stone?

1 min readAlso available in العربية

It is permissible to perform tayammum with anything that ascends from the earth's surface, such as dust, clay, stones, and sand, based on the Almighty's saying: (Then perform tayammum with pure earth).

Abu Hanifa and Malik agreed on the permissibility of performing tayammum with dust, stones, sand, and pebbles.

Abu Hanifa and Muhammad differed regarding tayammum with substances that are of the earth's kind: Abu Hanifa said: It is permissible to perform tayammum with anything that is of the earth's kind, whether something adheres to one's hand or not. Muhammad said: It is not permissible unless some of its particles adhere to one's hand.

The preponderant opinion is that one should perform tayammum with whatever parts of the earth are found if dust is not available, and this is the choice of Sheikh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah.

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

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