The story of tayammum
“We went out with the Messenger of Allah [saws] on one of his journeys and when we were in Al-Baida’ or Dhat Al-Jaish, a necklace of mine broke [and fell off]. The Messenger of Allah [saws] started to look for it, and the people did likewise. They were not near any water source, and they did not have any water with them. The people came to Abu Bakr [ra] and said, ‘Do you not see what ‘A’ishah has done? She has delayed the Messenger of Allah and the people with him. They are not near any water source, and they do not have any water with them.’ Abu Bakr came, and the Messenger of Allah was resting his head on my thigh and had gone to sleep. He said, ‘You have delayed the Messenger of Allah and the people. They are not near any water source, and they do not have any water source and they do not have any water with them.’ Abu Bakr scolded me and said whatever Allah willed he should say. He started poking me in the side with his hand, and nothing prevented me from moving except the fact that the Messenger of Allah was resting on my thigh. The Messenger of Allah slept until morning came, and there was no water. Then Allah revealed the Verse of tayammum, so they performed tayammum. Usaid bin Hudair [ra] who was one of the leaders said, ‘This is not the first of your blessings, O family of Abu Bakr!’ We made the camel that I had been riding get up, and we found the necklace underneath it.”[3]
To strike the ground with the palms of both hands, blow off the dust, wipe face and then the hands
“Do you not remember O Commander of the Believers when you and I were on a military expedition, and we became sexually impure and could not find water? As for you, you did not pray but I rolled in the dust and then prayed. When I came to the Prophet [saws] and told him what happened he said, ‘It would have been enough for you [to do this].’ [Then demonstrating] the Prophet struck the ground with his hands then blew on them and wiped his face and palms with them.”[4]
To use a wall to make tayammum
“The Prophet came from the direction of Bi’r Jamal. A man met him and greeted him. But he did not return back the greeting till he went to a [mud] wall and rubbed his hands, and his face with its dust [performed tayammum] and then returned back the greeting.”[5]
Tayammum replaces wudu’ and ghusl in the absence of water
“Allah’s Messenger [saws] saw a person sitting aloof and not offering salah [prayer] with the people. He asked him, ‘O so-and-so! What prevented you from offering the salah with the people?’ He replied, ‘O Allah’s Messenger! I am junub, and there is no water.’ The Prophet said, ‘Perform tayammum with clean earth and that will be sufficient for you.’”[6]