No, you cannot pray without ghusl if there is no water; you must perform tayammum instead.
If water is unavailable for performing ghusl (obligatory bath), Islamic jurisprudence provides an alternative: tayammum. Tayammum is a purification ritual using clean earth or a similar substance. The reference states, "If you cannot find water, then you must do tayammum, which is recommended." This indicates that tayammum serves as a substitute when water is absent.
What is Tayammum?
Tayammum linguistically means "aiming for something." In Islamic law, it is a specific act of worship performed to make prayer permissible when water is unavailable or its use is impossible due to illness or other valid reasons. The provided reference explains, "Linguistically tayammum means aiming for something... In the Shari'a it is a legal act of worship by which the prayer becomes allowed."
How to Perform Tayammum
While a detailed explanation of tayammum is beyond the scope of the provided reference and this answer, the basic steps generally include:
- Having the intention (niyyah) to purify oneself for prayer.
- Striking the hands on clean earth (or a similar permissible substance).
- Wiping the face with the hands.
- Wiping the hands and arms up to the elbows.
Why Tayammum?
The purpose of tayammum is to ensure that one does not neglect prayer due to the unavailability of water. It underscores the importance of prayer in Islam, ensuring that it can be performed under various circumstances through alternative means of purification. The reference emphasizes this by stating that it is "a legal act of worship by which the prayer becomes allowed." It is not the same as ghusl, but rather it serves as a substitute in order to be able to pray.
