Ruling on wearing 'breathable' nail polish during ablution

11-10-2014 | IslamWeb

Question:

Asa-almulaykum There is a new product on the market – “breathable nail polish” What is the vedict on this? Can one use it? Will it be accepted, will our wudhu be accepted? Will we be punished if we die with it on? Wa-alykum asalaam

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Answer:

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.

If it is confirmed that the mentioned nail polish does not prevent water from reaching the nails, then the ablution is valid and it is permissible to use it and perform ablution with it. If the polish prevents water from reaching the nails, then ablution is not valid, in which case, it is an obligation to remove it in order to perform ablution.

If a woman performs ablution but her ablution is not complete due to the polish preventing the water from reaching the nails, then her ablution as well as her prayer are not valid and it is feared that she will be punished on the Day of Resurrection, as the Prophet said when he saw some of his Companions performing ablution while the water did not reach their heels: “Woe to the heels from Hellfire,”and he repeated it twice or three times. [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

Al-Nawawi said in his commentary on the Hadeeth reported by Muslim: “Allaah threatens the heels with Hellfire because they lack the due purity...” [End of quote]

Al-Baghawi said: “It means, woe to the people who were negligent in washing their heels.”

For more information, please refer to Fatwa 83035.

Allaah Knows best.