Many Muslim women use nail polish as part of their makeup. Since nail polish is on girls’ fingernails, the question arises – Can you pray with nail polish on? And can you pray with nail polish?
This blog post discusses Islamic rules regarding nail polish and whether you can pray with nail polish. Also, I will insert fatwas and opinions of Muslim scholars.
Can you pray with nail polish on?
Yes, you can pray with nail polish. Because in Islam, it is permissible to use nail polish as part of decoration. Therefore, it will not hinder prayer.
However, if the nail polish creates a coating on the nails that is a barrier to water and water does not reach the skin or nails, then ablution will not be performed while the nail polish is applied. If the ablution is not pure, there will be no prayer. Remove the nail polish and do ablution before praying.
If someone does ablution and applies nail polish, then as long as he remains ablution, he can pray while wearing nail polish, there is no problem.
Ablution will be performed with colors like henna, which do not form a water-repellent coating on the skin or nails.
If there is a chance that such colors should be used in the decoration, then there is no need to worry about lifting it repeatedly to perform ablution. If, for some reason, there is no opportunity to remove the nail polish, there will be no fear of rushing the prayer.
Why not pray if you use nail polish?
Because after using conventional nail polishes in the market, a layer is usually formed on the nails. This layer prevents water from reaching inside the nail. Wudu will not be performed if the water does not get the inside of the nail.
And if there is no ablution, the prayer will not be pure. The Messenger of Allah, may God bless him and grant him peace, said, “Those whose ankles are dry during ablution will burn in hell.” That’s why we need water to reach all the organs well while ablution.
But if a girl wants to use nail polish, she can use it after performing ablution and remove it before performing ablution at other times.
Or she can use nail polish on her fingers when she is menstruating because prayer was not obligatory for him at that time. And since prayer is not mandatory, there is no need to perform ablution. However, using nail polish in normal conditions will not purify the ablution. So it should be avoided.
Scholars’ opinion
Nail polish, a famous cosmetic in women’s beauty practice, is a color that coats the nails. Water does not reach the place where the nail polish is applied. That’s why Muslim jurists say that applying such polish is not ablution.
As a reason, they say, the condition for Wudu is that its organs should have water. But the water does not reach under the nail polish. Therefore, if you have to give nail polish for any reason, you should remove it and perform ablution before prayer.
The same applies to bathing. In other words, using nail polish and performing a fard ghusl does not constitute a ghusl. Remove the nail polish, but have to take a shower. Since the time between one prayer and another is not much, many women find applying nail polish and removing it again is a hassle.
Because it can be seen that there is nail polish – on this pretext, they leave the prayer. For this reason, the jurists consider the use of nail polish undesirable from Sharia’s point of view.
Suppose women use nail polish as a part of beauty practice in a family or women’s community event and remove it with a remover before praying. In that case, nail polish can be used, according to the Faqihs.
FAQs
What is the provision of praying with nail polish?
Alhamdulillah. All praise is due to Allah. If there is no fear of harm, it is permissible for women to use nail polish as adornment, and there is nothing wrong with praying with nail polish.
But yes, if there is any metal in the nail polish so that the water does not reach under the nail polish, then ablution and bath will not be purified without removing the polish. If the ablution is not pure, the prayer will not be pure. (The fatwas of the Standing Committee on Fatwas (5/218) came in.)
If the nail polish forms a coating on the nails, Wudu will not be purified unless this coating is removed before Wudu. And if there is no coating of polish like henna, then ablution will be pure.
What should we do if there is nail polish on the nails of the deceased?
Since the bath or ablution of a woman given nail polish is not pure, then the question arises: if a woman dies in this situation, if a man also dies accidentally while giving nail polish, then what should be done to make a bath clean?
In response to this question, Shariah experts said the nail polish should be removed with a remover. If it is not picked up, then there will be no bathing.
However, using henna does not harm the ablution of any living or dead man or woman. Henna is also a color, but unlike nail polish, it does not form a coating or hard layer. As a result, water is not prevented from reaching those organs.
Can you pray with nail polish?
Yes, you can pray with nail polish. However, you cannot perform ablution with nail polish. Because it is not harmful to apply, pray with nail polish. But while performing ablution, nail polish prevents water from reaching the nails.
Does nail polish color matter?
In most cases, the color of the nail polish does not affect the permissibility of prayers. However, individuals may follow personal or cultural preferences regarding modesty and appearance.
Should I remove the nail polish before ablution?
Yes, nail polish must be removed before ablution because specific body parts must be washed before prayer. The nail polish itself affects the validity of ablution.
So it has to be removed for thorough cleaning. This is a matter of personal preference, and you may want to consult religious authorities for specific guidance.
Is there a specific way to perform ablution after wearing nail polish?
There is no specific procedure for ablution with nail polish. The key is to ensure that the required body parts are washed or wiped according to religious instructions. Some may apply nail polish so that water reaches the nails during ablution.
Should I seek guidance from a scholar?
If you have specific concerns or want personal guidance based on your religious beliefs, you can consult a knowledgeable spiritual leader or scholar in your community.
