Scholars are unanimous that dry ablution is perfectly legitimate when the conditions for it apply. They also agree that it replaces purification with water, making it permissible to pray, perform the tawaf, recite the Qur’an, etc.

Dry ablution is a legitimate concession granted by Allah says in the Qur’an to His servants. It is one of the distinctive aspects of Islamic law and it is peculiar to the Muslim community.

The Arabic word tayammum, which is translated as ‘dry ablution’, means wiping one’s face and arms with dust in a particular way as an act of worship when using water is not possible.

The Arabic word ghusl means to take a bath to wash the whole of one’s body. In the Islamic context it means pouring pure water over the entire body in a particular way, with the intention of worshipping  Allah by uplifiting the state of major ritual impurity.

Istijmar involves wiping with a solid object that is pure and cleansing, such as toilet paper, stones, wood, etc. The Prophet (peace be upon him) used stones for the purpose, and whatever achieves the same results is also acceptable.