It is enough to pour water on a limb if rubbing it is harmful due to sickness Fatwa No: 91536
- Fatwa Date:26-3-2006
I suffer for many years from a disease in my skin and I consulted many doctors. The problem is that the skin is very dry, and when performing ablution, I pour water with my fingers on my hands and feet. So, is my ablution correct this way or not?
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 is His slave and Messenger. We ask Allaah to exalt his mention as well as that of his family and all his companions.
First of all, we ask Allaah to cure you from this disease, and reward you on the Day of Judgement for being patient about it.
As regards your question, if you are not harmed by pouring water with your fingers and this water falls on the entire limb that should be washed, then your ablution is valid, and there is no difference whether you pour the water with your fingers or with your palm. If pouring the water worsens your disease or delays the cure, then you may just wipe over the limb. If again wiping over the limb hurts you, or delays the cure, then you may wipe over a bandage which you would put on this limb, and then wash the rest of the limbs which are not sick. The evidence on this is that Abu Daawood reported that Jaabir narrated that the Prophet said regarding the person who had an injury in his head: "It would have been enough for him to perform Tayammum (dry ablution) and put a bondage on his injury and then wipe over it, and then wash the rest of his body."
Allaah Knows best.