Do Nail Polish, Mascara and Cold Cream Break Wudu?
Estimated Reading Time: 15 min read
Does nail polish, mascara or cold cream affect your Wudu?
This article answers five specific questions about contact lenses, breathable nail polish, nail polish discovered after prayer, waterproof mascara and cold cream, using the Hanafi rulings and their references. For related rulings on the hands, see our guide on a man's ring and the rulings on nail cutting.
Quick Answer: Contact lenses need not be removed for Ablution (Wudu) or Ritual Bath (Ghusl). Cold cream does not prevent them either. Breathable nail polish, and waterproof mascara that stops water reaching beneath it, prevent them while it remains. Nail polish left unknowingly does not invalidate a prayer already offered.
1. Do Contact Lenses Need to Be Removed Before Ablution (Wudu) or Ritual Bath (Ghusl)?
Question: if contact lenses are in the eyes, is it necessary to take them out for Wudu or Ghusl?
Answer: it is not necessary to remove lenses for Wudu or Ghusl, because washing the inner part of the eyes is neither obligatory (Fard), nor Sunnah, nor even recommended (Mustahab). Moreover, water should be kept from going inside the eyes, because it is harmful, and if one exaggerates there is a fear of losing eyesight.
Imam Ahmad Raza Khan writes: "Regarding the inner surface of the eyelids, washing these two places is, by accepted consensus, not Fard at all, nor even Mustahab. Imams Abdullah ibn Umar and Abdullah ibn Abbas, may Allah be pleased with them, went to extremes in this matter, and their eyesight was lost." (Fatawa Rizviyyah, Vol. 1, p. 200)
Sadr-ush-Shariah Allama Muhammad Amjad Ali Azmi writes: "Washing the eyeballs and the inner surface of the eyelids is not needed at all; rather one should not do it, because it is harmful." (Bahar-e-Shariat, Vol. 1, Part 2, p. 290)
2. Can You Perform Ablution (Wudu) With "Breathable" Nail Polish Still On?
Question: a new nail polish called "Breathable Nail Polish" has come to the market, and it is said that it does not prevent water from reaching the nail. If Wudu is performed without removing it, is the Wudu valid?
Answer: according to the information gathered from websites and other sources, this polish is considered better for the nails than normal polish. Ordinary polish blocks oxygen and water from reaching the nails, which spoils their beauty and can cause other harm. The breathable polish forms a layer with very tiny pores through which molecules of oxygen and moisture reach the nails.
The ruling is that its benefits are one matter, but Wudu concerns washing the nails. Because of this polish, water does not flow over the nails in drops; only traces of water reach them, and that is not sufficient to fulfil the obligation. So if someone performs Wudu with this kind of polish on, her Wudu will not be valid. Nails are included in the limbs that must be washed, and washing means that at least two drops of water flow over each part of the limb.
Washing the hands and feet is obligatory (Fard) in Wudu. Allah, the Exalted, says:
Hadith references here are drawn from the standard collections. As with any translated religious text, readers are encouraged to verify the wording against the original Arabic where precision matters.
The Prophet, peace be upon him, saw some people who had performed Wudu but whose heels remained dry, and he said:
At least two drops of water must flow over each part of a limb washed in Wudu or Ghusl. The Durr-e-Mukhtar states:
Sadr-ush-Shariah writes: "Washing a limb means that at least two drops of water flow over every part of it. Merely becoming damp, water clinging like oil, or a single drop or half-drop trickling down is not counted as washing; neither Wudu nor Ghusl will be performed by it. This point deserves great attention, for people pay no heed to it and their prayers are lost." (Bahar-e-Shariat, Vol. 1, Part 2, p. 288)
If something remains stuck to the body that prevents water from reaching the body, Wudu and Ghusl will not be valid. Al-Muheet al-Burhani states:
3. You Prayed, Then Realised Nail Polish Was Still There: What Is the Ruling?
Question: a Muslim woman had applied nail polish, cleaned it off as best she could, performed Wudu or Ghusl and prayed. Later she realised the polish had not been removed properly, so water had not reached the nail. What is the ruling on the prayer she offered?
Answer: the prayer she offered is valid. The detail is this: if something is stuck to the body that a person generally or specially needs to deal with, that can be removed without difficulty or harm, but whose care, watchfulness and precaution involves hardship, such as kohl residue, dough for those who bake and knead, ink for a scribe, or henna for women, then Wudu or Ghusl is valid even with it on the body, and a prayer offered with it is valid too. Women generally use nail polish as adornment, and there is real hardship in caring for it as well, so nail polish falls under this concession. If she did not know that polish was stuck to her nails, her Wudu or Ghusl is valid, and the prayer she offered is valid.
However, once she becomes aware of it, if removing it causes no harm or hardship, then removing the polish and washing that place becomes obligatory (Fard) for Wudu or Ghusl.
If she already knew before Wudu that something was stuck, or she prayed after Wudu and learned of it later, then removing it is obligatory. If she performs Wudu or Ghusl without removing it and washing beneath, Wudu and Ghusl will not be valid, and if she prays after such a Wudu or Ghusl, the prayer will not be valid. The concession was only because of the hardship in avoiding and caring for it; once she knows and removal involves no harm or hardship, the concession no longer applies.
Note: if nail polish or a similar thing remains on the body even after washing, so that water cannot reach the skin, Wudu and Ghusl will not be valid as long as it remains, provided removing it is possible. If removing it is not possible, or removal involves severe hardship, Wudu and Ghusl are valid without removing it. But deliberately creating such a condition, which becomes an obstruction to Wudu, Ghusl and obligatory (Fard) or necessary (Wajib) acts of worship being completed with their conditions, is impermissible and sinful.
The wider principle is that where there is hardship in the Shariah, the hardship is removed. Allah, the Exalted, says:
Wudu and Ghusl are valid even with things on the body whose care involves hardship. The Durr-e-Mukhtar and its commentary Radd al-Muhtar state:
Under the words "وحناء ولو جرمه به يفتى", Jad al-Mumtar states:
Imam Ahmad Raza Khan writes, translated here from his Urdu original: "Whatever a person generally or specially needs to deal with, and in whose care and precaution there is hardship, its residue on or inside the nails, or anywhere else it happens to be applied, even if it has thickness and water cannot reach beneath it, does not prevent the obligatory (Fard) act of purification from being fulfilled, that is, Wudu and Ghusl will be valid. Examples are dough for those who bake and knead, dye for dyers, henna for women, ink for a scribe, plaster and clay for a labourer, kohl residue in the corner of the eye or on the eyelash for people in general, and also body dirt, clay, dust, and fly or mosquito droppings." (Fatawa Rizviyyah, Vol. 1, p. 203)
The fatwa notes that women do not use henna every day but from time to time, and likewise people do not use kohl every day, yet the Shariah has granted a concession for the residue of these things.
Related reading: henna, bracelets, anklets and bangles.
However, once it is known, removing and washing the residue (the layer) is necessary. Imam Ahmad Raza Khan states that hardship takes three forms:
- 1Reaching the place with water is harmful, such as the inside of the eye.
- 2Reaching it involves real difficulty, such as a woman's braided hair.
- 3After the person becomes aware, there is no harm or difficulty in removing it, but guarding and caring for it is troublesome, such as fly or mosquito droppings or a tangled, knotted hair.
He explains that the pardon in the first and second forms is obvious. In the third, removing the obstruction after becoming aware is necessary. For example, if a person sees that henna, kohl, dough, paint or droppings have stuck to the body, it should not be left as it is with water poured over it; it should be removed, because there was no hardship in the final removal, only in the care and checking beforehand, and after becoming aware there is no need for the concession. He adds:
Regarding deliberately creating an obstruction, Allama Shami writes on the eating of garlic, onion and similar things:
The fatwa cites Imam Ahmad Raza Khan on the same point, in summary: entering the mosque with a foul odour is not permissible if the smell of the mouth has been changed by the hookah, and one may not enter the mosque without cleaning the mouth. This alone does not make the hookah itself forbidden, just as eating raw garlic or onion is undoubtedly lawful, yet entering the mosque after eating it is forbidden until the smell is gone. But a hookah that is so heavy and used so carelessly that the odour remains until the time of congregation is impermissible to smoke close to the congregation, because it leads to leaving the congregation and the prostration, or to entering the mosque with a foul smell, and both are forbidden. Every lawful thing that in itself leads to a forbidden act is itself forbidden and impermissible. (Fatawa Rizviyyah, Vol. 25, p. 94)
4. Does Waterproof Mascara Affect Ablution (Wudu) or Ritual Bath (Ghusl)?
Question: mascara is applied over the eyelashes to lengthen them, and it is waterproof, meaning water does not go beneath it. If mascara is on, will Wudu be valid?
Answer: if mascara is applied exactly as described, Wudu will not be valid while it is on, because water will not reach beneath the place where it is applied. Every limb whose washing is obligatory in Wudu and Ghusl needs at least two drops of water to flow over each part of it. If even a hair's breadth of a limb remains dry, Wudu and Ghusl will not be valid. So until the mascara is removed and that place is washed, Wudu and Ghusl will not be valid.
Therefore, mascara should not be applied. If it has been applied, removing it is necessary. If it cannot be removed completely, then as much as can be removed must be removed, and whatever remains after that is forgiven because of hardship.
5. Does Cold Cream Break Ablution (Wudu) in Winter?
Question: to protect against cold, Vaseline or cold cream is applied to the hands and face. Is Wudu valid while it is on, or must it be washed off with soap and the like before Wudu?
Answer: the Vaseline or creams applied to the skin to protect against the effects of cold are generally not thick enough to have a body of their own, so they do not even hinder water from reaching the skin. Therefore Wudu is valid with such creams on the skin, and it is not necessary to wash off their greasiness with soap and the like before Wudu.
Summary of the Five Rulings
- 1Contact lenses: it is not necessary to remove them, because washing the inner part of the eye is not Fard, Sunnah or even Mustahab.
- 2Breathable nail polish: Wudu is not valid with it on, because water does not flow over the nails in drops; only traces of water reach them.
- 3Nail polish discovered after prayer: if it was not known, the Wudu, Ghusl and prayer are valid; once known, it must be removed and the place washed if removal causes no harm or hardship.
- 4Waterproof mascara: while water cannot reach beneath it, Wudu and Ghusl are not valid; remove it, and what cannot be removed is forgiven because of hardship.
- 5Cold cream: Wudu is valid with it on, and it is not necessary to wash it off first.
For related topics, see our guides on platinum rings, gold watches and a man's crown and on hair oil, jewellery, perfume and adornment during Iddat.
May Allah grant us all the understanding to act upon these rulings. Ameen. If you found this useful, consider sharing it with another sister who may have the same questions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. The inside of the eye is not a part of the body that Ablution (Wudu) or Ritual Bath (Ghusl) requires you to wash, so contact lenses do not need to be removed and water does not need to be forced inside the eye. Forcing it is better avoided because it can harm the eyes.
No. Wudu requires actual washing, meaning at least two drops of water flowing over each part of the nail. Only traces of water reaching the nail are not enough, so the polish must be removed before Wudu.
No, if you genuinely did not know at the time, the Wudu, Ghusl and prayers you performed are valid. Once you find it, remove it and wash that spot before your next Wudu or Ghusl, provided removing it causes no real harm or hardship.
When it has formed a genuine waterproof layer that stops water from reaching the eyelashes and the skin beneath. In that case it must be removed, as far as possible, before Wudu, and anything that cannot be removed without hardship is excused.
No. Creams and petroleum jelly used against cold are generally not thick enough to stop water from reaching the skin, so Wudu performed with them on is valid and there is no need to wash them off first.
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