Ali reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ would go out and relieve himself, then wipe his hands with dust. I would say, "Messenger of Allah, water is right nearby."He would reply, "How do I know? Perhaps I will not reach it."
أن رسول الله ﷺ كان يخرج، فيهريق الماء، فيتمسح بالتراب، فأقول: يا رسول الله، إن الماء منك قريب، فيقول: وما يدريني لعلي لا أبلغه.
Imam Ahmad narrated it (2614) via Abdullah bin Mubarak, and it is also in his Zuhd (292), he said, Ibn Lahia informed us, from Abdullah bin Hubayra, from Hanash, from Ibn Abbas, who said, and then he mentioned it. Its chain is hasan because of Ibn Lahia, for the narration of Abdullah bin Mubarak from him is sound.This hadith contains encouragement to perform the prayer with tayammum when one cannot find water, and it is not permissible to delay the prayer in order to obtain water if there is a fear that its time will pass.