First: when it is not possible to procure enough water for performing wuÃÙ or ghusl.
654. If the person is situated in a populated area, he should search for water for wuÃÙ or ghusl to an extent that he loses hope in finding water.
If he is situated in a desert, on uneven land, he should search for water for a distance covered by an arrow released from a normal bow (the kind used during the olden days). If he is on even land, he should search for twice this distance.
Obligatory precaution dictates that he search for water in the entire circular area having the aforementioned radii, centered at his location.
655. If some of the land around him is flat, and some of it uneven, he should search for the distance covered by an arrow in the uneven areas, and twice this distance in the flat areas, in the manner described in the previous article.
656. A person does not have to search for water in the directions that he is certain do not contain water, or has a proof authorized by the sharia, to that effect.
657. If a person whose time for prayer is not constrained, and is afforded enough time to procure water, attains certainty that water is available in an area which is further than the distance he is obligated to search, he should go to that area to procure water as long as it does not entail hardship or harm. The same will apply if a proof authorized by the sharia is established to that effect.
However, if he merely speculates that water may be available in an area, he does not have to go to that area even though it may be highly probable, unless he attains satisfaction. It is however more precautionary that he do so.
658. It is not necessary for a person himself to go searching for water; rather, he may send someone whose word satisfies him. In fact, the same will apply if the person is trustworthy and one does not have a reasonable doubt contrary to his statement, even though his statements may not evoke satisfaction. In both cases, if one person goes searching, it will suffice in lieu of the rest, even if they be many.
659. If a person speculates that he may have some water within his belongings, in his house, or within the group he is travelling with, he should search to an extent that he attains certainty or satisfaction that water is not available, or to an extent that he loses hope in finding water.
660. If a person searches for water before the time of prayer, and fails to find any, and he remains in that area until the time of prayer, obligatory precaution dictates that if he speculates that water may have been located within the area, he should not suffice himself with the search that was conducted earlier, unless it was conducted close to the time of prayer, such that it would allow him to offer prayer at its prime time.
661. If he searches for water after the time of prayer sets in, and fails to find any, and he remains in that area until the time for the subsequent prayer, obligatory precaution dictates that if he speculates that water may have been located within the area, he should conduct another search for water.
662. It is not necessary to search for water in the following cases:
a. when the time for prayer is constrained
b. when one fears from thieves or wild animals for his life, or belongings which are significant in accordance to his status
c. when searching for water is so difficult, that undertaking the search entails hardship
663. If a person does not go searching for water until the time left for prayer becomes constrained, he will have committed a sin. However, his prayer offered with tayammum will be valid, even if he later comes to know that had he gone searching for water, he may have found it. The recommended precaution is that he also offers the qaÃÁ of the prayer.
664. If a person who has certainty that he cannot find any water, does not go searching for water, and offers his prayer with tayammum, only to realize later on that had he gone searching for water, he may have found some, he should offer his prayer again with wuÃÙ if the time for that prayer has not elapsed.
665. If a person does not find water after conducting a search for it, and offers his prayer with tayammum, only to realize later on that water was in fact available in the area that he searched, he should offer his prayer with wuÃÙ if the time for it has not elapsed. If it has, his prayer will be valid.
666. If a person who has certainty that the time for prayer is constrained, does not go searching for water, and offers his prayer with tayammum, only to realize after his prayer and before the end of the allocated time that he did in fact have time to go searching for water, he should repeat his prayer. If he realizes after the time allocated for that prayer, he does not have to offer its qaÃÁ.
667. If a person has wuÃÙ after the time of prayer sets in, and he knows or attains a proof authorized by the sharia—such as attaining satisfaction or other proofs—that should he break his wuÃÙ, he will not be able to procure water for wuÃÙ, or may not be able to perform wuÃÙ, he should refrain from doing so as long as he is able to maintain his wuÃÙ and it does not cause him hardship or harm. However, he is permitted to have intercourse with his wife, even if he knows that he will not be able to perform ghusl after it.
668. If a person is in the state of wuÃÙ prior to the time of prayer, and knows or has a proof authorized by the sharia, that should he break his wuÃÙ, he will not be able to procure water, or may not be able to perform wuÃÙ, the recommended precaution is that he should not break his wuÃÙ if he is able to maintain it without incurring harm or hardship.
669. If a person has just enough water for performing wuÃÙ or ghusl, and knows or has a proof authorized by the sharia that should he spill the water, he will not be able to procure more water, it is not permissible for him to spill that water if the time for prayer has set in. If it has not, he should not spill it based on recommended precaution.
670. If a person knows or has a proof authorized by the sharia that he is unable to find water, he is not permitted to break his wuÃÙ after the time of prayer has set in without the fear of harm or hardship, nor is he allowed to spill the water in his possession. However, the prayer that he offers with tayammum is in order, although the recommended precaution is that he offers its qaÃÁ as well.
