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English translation
313. It was narrated from Ibn 'Abdur-Rahmân bin Abza from his father that a man came to 'Umar and said: "I have become Junub and I do not have any water." 'Umar said: "Do not pray." But 'Ammâr bin Yâsir said: "O Commander of the Believers! Don't you remember when you and I were on a campaign and we became Junub and could not find water? You did not pray, but I rolled in the dust and prayed. Then we came to the Prophet ﷺ and told him about that, and he said: 'It would have been sufficient for you (to do this),' then the Prophet ﷺ struck his hands on the ground and blew on them, then wiped his face and hands with them" - (one of the narrators) Salamah was uncertain and did not know whether that was up to the elbows
or just the hands. And 'Umar said: "We will let you bear the burden of what you took upon yourself." (Saḥīḥ)
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Commentary
1. 'Ammar bin Yāsir's rolling himself in earth was an action based on personal legal reasoning. It was perhaps due to the notion that the dry ablution (or the symbolic ablution) would also suffice in place of bath, providing it is similar or comes closer to taking a bath. That is to say, if earth touches the whole body.
2. The dry ablution of the Messenger of Allāh ﷺ is restricted to the face and hands with one stroke to the earth.
3. 'Umar and Ibn Mas'ud did not consider the dry ablution sufficient in place of the purificatory bath (Ghusl). But this was due to their extreme caution. Otherwise, in the Glorious Qur'ān, the Verse concerning dry ablution permits the dry ablution to lift one's major impurity.
