Narrated Ammar ibn Yasir: They (the Companions of the Prophet) wiped with pure earth (their hands and face) to offer the dawn prayer in the company of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. They struck the ground with their palms and wiped their faces once. Then they repeated and struck the ground with their palms once again and wiped their arms completely up to the shoulders and up to the armpits with the inner side of their hands.

Shaqiq said: While I was sitting between Abdullah and Abu Musa, the latter said: Abu Abdur-Rahman, what do you think if a man becomes defiled (because of seminal omission) and does not find water for a month; should he not perform tayammum ? He replied: No, even if he does not find water for a month. Abu Musa then said: How will you do with the Quranic version (about tayammum) in the chapter al-Ma'idah which says: ". . . and you find no water, then go to clean, high ground" (5: 6)? Abdullah (bin Masud) then said: If they (the people) are granted concession in this respect, they might perform tayammum with pure earth when water is cold. Abu Musa said: For this (reason) you forbade it ? He said: Yes. Abu Musa then said: Did you not hear what Ammar said to Umar ? (He said): The Messenger of Allah ﷺ sent me on some errand. I had seminal emission and I did not find water. Therefore, I rolled on the ground just as an animal rolls down. I then came to the Prophet ﷺ and made a mention of that to him. He said: It would have been enough for you to do thus. Then he struck the ground with his hands and shook them off and then stuck the right hand with his left hand and his left hand with his right hand (and wiped) over his hands (up to the wrist) and wiped his face. Abdullah then said to him: Did you not see that Umar was not satisfied with the statement of Ammar ?

Abdur-Rahman bin Abza said: While I was with Umar, a man came to him and said: We live at a place (where water is not found) for a month or two (what should we do, if we are sexually defiled). Umar said: So far as I am concerned, I do not pray until I find water. Ammar said: Commanded of the faithful, do you not remember when I and you were among the camels (For tending them)? There we became sexually defiled. I rolled down on the ground. We then came to the Prophet ﷺ and I mentioned that to him. He said: It was enough for you to do so. Then he struck the ground with both his hands. He then blew over them and wiped his face and both hands by means of them up to half the arms. Umar said: Ammar, fear Allah. He said: Commander of the faithful, if you want, I will never narrate it. Umar said: Nay, by Allah, we shall turn you from that towards which you turned (i. e. you have your choice).

Ammar bin Yasir said: I asked the Prophet ﷺ about tayammum. He commanded me to strike only one stroke (i. e. the strike the ground) for (wiping) the face and the hands.

Abu Dharr said: A few goats got collected with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. He said: Abu Dharr, drive them to the wood. I drove them to Rabadhah (a place near Madina). I would have sexual defilement (during my stay there) and I would remain (in this condition) for five or six days. Then I came to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. He said: O Abu Dharr. I kept silence. He then said: May your mother bereave you, Abu Dharr: woe be to your mother. He then called a black slave-girl for me. She brought a vessel which contained water. She then concealed me by drawing a curtain and I concealed myself behind a she-camel, and took a bath. I felt as if I had thrown away a mountain from me. He said: Clean earth is a means for ablution for a Muslim, even for ten years (he does not find water); but when you find water, you should make it touch your skin, for that is better. The version of Musaddad has: "the goats (were collected) from the alms, " and the tradition reported by Amr is complete.

A man from Banu Amir said: I embraced Islam and my (ignorance of the) religion made me anxious (to learn the essentials). I came to Abu Dharr. Abu Dharr said: The climate of Madina did not suit me. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ ordered me to have a few camels and goats. He said to me: Drink their milk. (The narrator Hammad said): I doubt whether he (the Prophet) said: "their urine. " Abu Dharr said: I was away from the watering place and I had my family with me. I would have sexual defilement and pray without purification. I came to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ at noon. He was resting in the shade of the mosque along with a group of Companions. He (the Prophet) said: Abu Dharr. I said: Yes, I am ruined, Messenger of Allah. He said: What ruined you ? I said: I was away from the watering place and I had family with me. I used to be sexually defiled and pray without purification. He commanded (to bring) water for me. Then a black slave-girl brought a vessel of water that was shaking as the vessel was not full. I concealed myself behind a camel and took bath and them came (to the Prophet). The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: Abu Dharr, clean earth is a means of ablution, even if you do not find water for ten years. When you find water, you should make it touch your skin. Abu Dawud said: This is transmitted by Hammad bin Zaid from Ayyub. This version does not mention the words "their urine. " This is not correct. The words "their urine" occur only in the version reported by Anas and transmitted only by the people of Basrah.