What is the ruling if one possesses water before the prayer time, discards it, or passes by water and then lacks water at the appointed time?
Chapter on Tayammum
Al-Mughni
Book of Purification
Primary text
If a person has water before the prescribed time for prayer, discards it, or passes by water and subsequently finds no water at the time of prayer, they must perform Tayammum (dry ablution) without needing to repeat the prayer later. This opinion is held by Al-Shafi'i. The justification is that the obligation to use the water was not incumbent upon them at that moment, resembling the case where one expects to find water during the time of prayer.
Supporting text
Al-Awza'i stated that if the individual believed they would reach the water within the prayer time, the ruling is the same as the primary opinion; however, if they did not expect to reach it, they must perform Tayammum and later repeat the prayer because they were negligent (mufarrit).