What is the ruling on a slight barrier on the face during tayammum, such as one or two grains of sand?

The jurists differed on the issue of wiping the entire face with dust during tayammum. The Maliki, Shafi'i, and Hanbali schools, along with the majority of scholars, held that this is obligatory, including wiping the apparent hair.

Some of them mentioned that it is not obligatory for dust to reach the inside of the mouth and nose.

The Hanafi school has different narrations: some agree with the majority, while others deem the wiping sufficient if no area the size of a dirham, or a quarter of the face, or less, is left unwiped.

Those who stipulated comprehensive wiping explained that passing the hands over the entire face is sufficient, and it is not required for dust to reach every single part. They also stated that leaving a small amount unwiped unintentionally is pardoned, as is the case with wiping over the head.

Therefore, the presence of a small barrier — such as a speck of sand — does not affect the validity of tayammum if the hands are passed over the entire face.