CAN WE DO WUDU WITH NAIL POLISH ON?

If someone uses nail polish, can they make Wudu and will it be valid? Some scholars approve this, such as Abdullah Muhaddith Ropari of Pakistan, in his book ‘Fatawa Alh-e-Hadith’ (Vol.2, section 1). But most scholars are against this. However, my question is that would the Wudu be accepted according to Qur’an and Sunnah? If not, then what about the bath of impurity?

Answer:

The Prophet (salla-Llaahu ‘alayhi wa-sallam) strongly commanded us to make proper Wudu and not leave any part dry. One day, when the Prophet (salla-Llaahu ‘alayhi wa-sallam) saw some companions making wudu in a hurry, he noticed one had left his heel dry. He warned him saying that there will be punishment of fire for this dry heel…? This shows that Wudu is incomplete if one leaves any part dry.

Nail polish is a thick substance, like plastic, and obviously water cannot go through it to wet the nails. Therefore, they will stay dry in that sense and hence Wudu will be considered incomplete.

As for the Fatwa of Sheikh Abdullah Ropari, we do not know on what evidence he has based this, so we cannot support it.

In any case, there will be doubt about the validity of the Wudu and to remove any sort of doubt is compulsory. There is a similar situation with taking a bath of impurity with nail polish on. If a woman were to pray after having taken this bath, her prayer would not be accepted because of her incomplete bath and Wudu. It is therefore advised that the nail polish should be removed before making Wudu or taking a bath.

Please note that Mehndi (Henna) is not classed like nail polish, and does not affect Wudu because it does not form a barrier on the skin.

Taken From the Book of…

FATAWA “Sirat-E-Mustaqeem”
By : The Late “Maulana Mahmood Ahmed Mirpuri”
Traslated by “Mohammed Abdul Hadi al-Oomeri”
Published by “DARUSSALAM”