To perform tayammum instead of ghusl for fear of dying from using water
“I had a wet dream on a cold night during the Battle of Dhat As-Salasil. I felt that if I performed ghusl I might kill [myself], so I performed tayammum and led my companions in subh [fajr prayer]. They mentioned this to the Messenger of Allah [saws], so he said, ‘O Amr! You led your companions in prayer while you were sexually defiled?’ I informed him of the reason that I did not perform ghusl and said, ‘I heard Allah [swt], “And do not kill yourselves; verily Allah is Ever-Merciful to you.” So the Messenger of Allah [saws] laughed and did not say anything.”[7]
If still within time for the prayer, recommended to perform wudu’ and repeat the prayer
“Two people left on a journey. The time for prayer came, and they did not have any water. They performed tayammum with pure earth and prayed. They then found water within the time [for the prayer], so one of them repeated the prayer after performing wudu’ whereas the other did not. They then came to the Messenger of Allah [saws] and mentioned this to him. He said to the one who did not repeat [the prayer], ‘You have correctly performed the sunnah and your prayer is sufficient for you.’ And he said to the one who performed wudu’ and repeated [the prayer], ‘You get the reward twice.’”[8]
Can perform several prayers with tayammum
“Pure clean earth is a purifier for the Muslim; even if he did not find water for ten years. Then if he finds water, then let him use it on his skin. For, that is better.”[9]
[1] Sahih Al-Bukhari 335
[2] Surah Al-Ma’idah Chapter 5 Verse 6
[3] Sahih Muslim 816 [108/367]; Sahih Al-Bukhari 334; Sunan Abu Dawud Sahih 317; Sunan An-Nasa’i Sahih 311
[4] Sunan Ibn Majah Sahih 569; Sahih Al-Bukhari 338; Sunan An-Nasa’i Sahih 313
[5] Sahih Al-Bukhari 337; Sahih Muslim 822 [114/369]; Sunan Abu Dawud Sahih 329; Sunan An-Nasa’i Sahih 312
[6] Sahih Al-Bukhari 348; Sunan An-Nasa’i Sahih 322
[7] Sunan Abu Dawud Sahih 334
[8] Sunan Abu Dawud Hasan 338
[9] Jami’ At-Tirmidhi Hasan 124; Sunan An-Nasa’i Hasan 323