Is wudu valid with nail polish on?
The question as asked, details removedCan a woman make wudu or ghusl without removing her nail polish?More
This is a sample answer written to show how the site works. It follows the standard Hanafi books, but no mufti has reviewed or signed it yet, so it is not a fatwa. For a real answer, ask a question. Ask a mufti
بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيْمِ اَلْجَوَابُ بِعَوْنِ الْمَلِكِ الْوَهَّابِ اَللّٰهُمَّ هِدَايَةَ الْحَقِّ وَالصَّوَابِ
1Short answer
No. Nail polish forms a layer that stops water reaching the nail, so wudu and ghusl are not valid until it is removed. Henna (mehndi) is different: its colour does not block water.
2Detailed answer
For wudu and ghusl, water must reach every part of the limbs that are washed, including the nails. Nail polish dries into a layer over the nail and keeps water from reaching it. So:
- Wudu or ghusl made with nail polish on is not valid.
- Any prayers prayed with that wudu must be repeated.
Henna (mehndi) only leaves colour on the skin and nails; it does not form a layer, so wudu and ghusl are valid with it. The same applies to any dye that leaves colour but no coating.
3Evidence and sources
- Qur'an, Al-Ma'idah 5:6
- Radd al-Muhtar, Book of Purification
- Bahar-e-Shariat, chapter on wudu
Arabic texts, translations and how the ruling was derived
فاغسلوا وجوهكم وأيديكم إلى المرافق
Meaning: Wash your faces and your arms up to the elbows.
The command to wash means water must flow over the limb itself. The fuqaha state that anything forming a barrier on a part that must be washed, such as dough, wax or paint, prevents the washing from being valid, while mere colour does not.
وَاللهُ أَعْلَمُ عَزَّوَجَلَّ وَرَسُوْلُهُ أَعْلَمُ صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ