A) I want to please know directions to do Tayammum when due to certain reasons, one can not perform ablution.

B) Also, what is the ruling for tayammum if you have any medicated or daily use cream/lotion/base on?

A) Performing tayammum with soil, pebbles, a clod of earth, and stone is valid. However, the recommended precaution is that if it is possible to perform tayammum with soil, one should not perform it with any other thing; and if soil is not available, [the recommended precaution is to perform tayammum] with fine sand that is very soft, such that it can be called ‘soil’; and if that is not possible, with a clod of earth; and if that is not possible, with pebbles; and in the event that pebbles and a clod of earth are not available, one must perform tayammum with a stone.

Three things are obligatory when performing tayammum in place of wuḍūʾ or ghusl:

1. Striking or placing the palms of both hands on something with which tayammum can be validly performed; and based on obligatory precaution, the striking of both palms must be done simultaneously;

2. Wiping the palms of both hands over the entire forehead – and based on obligatory precaution, over the two sides of the forehead as well – from the place where the hair of the head grows to the eyebrows and above the nose; and the recommended precaution is that the palms should be wiped over the eyebrows as well;

3. Wiping the palm of the left hand over the whole of the back of the right hand, and wiping the palm of the right hand over the whole of the back of the left hand; and the obligatory precaution is that that the aforementioned order must be observed [i.e. first the back of the right hand must be wiped and then the back of the left].

It is necessary that tayammum be performed with the intention of attaining proximity to Allah, just as it was mentioned with regard to performing wuḍūʾ.(1)

It is necessary that tayammum be performed with the intention of attaining proximity to Allah, just as it was mentioned with regard to performing wuḍūʾ.(1)

Ruling 690. The recommended precaution is that tayammum – whether it is in place of wuḍūʾ or in place of ghusl – should be performed in this manner: (1) the palms are struck on the ground once and are wiped over the forehead and the back of the hands; and (2) they are then struck again on the ground and are wiped over the back of the hands.

B) One must remove any rings from his fingers when wiping over his hands; and if there is any obstruction on his forehead, the back of his hands, or on his palms – for example, something is stuck on them – he must remove it.