Ibn Abbas was asked ahout Tayammum. He said: "When Allah mentioned Wudu in His Book, He said: "So wash your faces and your hands (forearms) up to the elbows." And He said about Tayammum: "And rub therewith your faces and hands" And He said: "And the male thief and the female thief; cut off their hands." So the Sunnah for cutting is the two hands. So it is only the face and the hands, meaning, Tayammum."
The Book on Purification - Jami' at-Tirmidhi
Hadith Reference: Jami` at-Tirmidhi 145
Narration Context
This narration from Abdullah ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) addresses a question regarding the proper method of performing Tayammum (dry ablution) when water is unavailable or its use is harmful.
Qur'anic Evidence Analysis
Ibn Abbas employs precise textual analysis of the Qur'an to derive the ruling. He notes that for regular ablution (Wudu), Allah commands washing the face and hands up to the elbows. However, for Tayammum, the command is to "rub therewith your faces and hands" without specifying the elbows.
He further substantiates his position by referencing the verse about theft punishment, where "hands" refers specifically to the hands themselves, not including the forearms. This establishes that the default meaning of "hands" in Islamic legal terminology is the hands proper.
Scholarly Interpretation
Classical scholars explain that Ibn Abbas' deduction demonstrates the principle of analogical reasoning (Qiyas) in Islamic jurisprudence. Just as the punishment for theft involves cutting only the hands (not including forearms), similarly Tayammum involves wiping only the face and hands (not arms up to elbows).
This ruling represents the majority position among scholars, though some early scholars held different opinions based on other interpretations. The wisdom behind this limitation is that Tayammum is a concession (rukhsa) granted in difficult circumstances, and its requirements are accordingly simplified.
Practical Application
The correct method of Tayammum according to this ruling involves: striking pure earth with both hands, then wiping the entire face once, followed by wiping both hands up to the wrists only. This differs from Wudu where arms are washed up to elbows.
This narration serves as a prime example of how the Companions derived legal rulings directly from Qur'anic texts, establishing important methodological principles for Islamic jurisprudence.