Question:
Assalamualaikum, I have a question regarding whether or not my ablution will be affected if I am wearing beauty products such as moisturizer and sunblock on my face?
Answer:
Alhamdulillah, praise and thanks to Allah for the countless blessings He has blessed us all with. Blessings and salutations to the Prophet Muhammad PBUH, his wives, his family, companions and all those that follow his teachings to the day of judgement.
We will start our discussion with an excerpt from the book al-Fiqh al-Manhaji (1/55): “It is obligatory to wash the body parts for ablution thoroughly with water which includes hairs and skin. If there is dirt under the nails or wearing a ring which hinders water from reaching the skin, then the ablution is invalid.”
This is in accordance with a hadith from Abdullah bin ‘Amr R.Anhuma, where he said:
رَجَعْنَا مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ مِنْ مَكَّةَ إِلَى الْمَدِينَةِ حَتَّى إِذَا كُنَّا بِمَاءٍ بِالطَّرِيقِ تَعَجَّلَ قَوْمٌ عِنْدَ الْعَصْرِ فَتَوَضَّئُوا وَهُمْ عِجَالٌ فَانْتَهَيْنَا إِلَيْهِمْ وَأَعْقَابُهُمْ تَلُوحُ لَمْ يَمَسَّهَا الْمَاءُ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم: وَيْلٌ لِلأَعْقَابِ مِنَ النَّارِ أَسْبِغُوا الْوُضُوءَ
“We returned from Mecca to Medina with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), and when we came to some water on the way, some of the people were in a hurry at the time of the afternoon prayer and performed ablution hurriedly; and when we reached them, their heels were dry, no water had touched them. The Prophet (ﷺ) said: Woe to (dry) heels, because of Hell-fire. Make your ablution thorough.”
Sahih al-Bukhari (161) and Sahih Muslim (241)
The next hadith states:
أَنَّ رَجُلاً تَوَضَّأَ فَتَرَكَ مَوْضِعَ ظُفُرٍ عَلَى قَدَمِهِ فَأَبْصَرَهُ النَّبِىُّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَقَالَ: ارْجِعْ فَأَحْسِنْ وُضُوءَكَ فَرَجَعَ ثُمَّ صَلَّى
“A person performed ablution and left a small part equal to the space of a nail (unwashed). The Apostle of Allah (ﷺ) saw that and said: Go back and perform ablution well. He then went back (performed ablution well) and offered the prayer.”
Sahih Muslim (243)
Both hadiths explained that ablution is invalid if there is some part from the body part for ablution is not washed thoroughly, even if the part is small.
First, if anything hinders water from reaching the skin then the ablution is invalid. For example, if there is something under the nails, such as leftover food and flour, that hinders water from reaching the skin, then it will invalidate the ablution, according to the final opinion. However, if it is a result of sweat, then it is forgiven.
Second, among the valid conditions of ablution is ensuring there is nothing on the body part for ablution that could change the property of water that comes into contacts with it, such as perfumes and ink. This does not include your own sweat and the athar (residual) fragrance from perfumes, for both are naturally difficult to get rid of for humans. [Refer Nail al-Raja (pg.75); Kasyifah al-Saja(pg.108)]
Hence, if there is any substance on the body parts of ablution that will hinder water from reaching the skin, or change the water property of ablution, then, it is obligatory to remove it completely before performing ablution. The failure to do so will invalidate ablution. However, if just a little residue is left, that it will not hinder water from reaching the skin nor will it change the water property of ablution, then it is forgiven.
We have discussed the issue of wudhu-friendly cosmetic in Bayan Linnas Series 88.
May this explanation give us a solution to the problem we face in our lives. We pray that Allah SWT always bless us with understanding in order for us to practise the commandments in Islam in search for His love and blessing. Amin.