A woman sometimes performs Wudhoo’ (ablution) amid non-Mahram men and at other times the sleeves of her dress are very tight and it is difficult to roll them up. Is she allowed to wipe over the sleeve during Wudhoo’, given that she had performed Wudhoo’ before she put on her dress?

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His Slave and Messenger.

A woman is not allowed to wipe over the sleeve of her garment during Wudhoo’, and doing so renders her Wudhoo’ invalid. Unlike turbans, bandages, splints and socks, a sleeve is not specified as a place for wiping under Sharee‘ah. The dress being tight and its sleeves difficult to roll up is not a proper justification for leaving out washing one of the organs of Wudhoo’. A woman can choose or design her garments in a way which allows her to perform Wudhoo’ properly. Also, she can screen herself while she is performing Wudhoo’ in order not to be seen by non-Mahram men. If this is difficult, she can take some water and go to a place where she is not seen by men in order to perform valid Wudhoo’.

Allaah Knows best.