Fatwa ID: 06384

Answered by: Alimah Zakiratul Hoque

Question:

When I am wiping my head in Wudu I find there to be bits on my skin, bits in my hair etc. does that have to be removed before wiping? I am talking about things that naturally accumulate on the skin. Dirt from the skin, also. Or it doesn’t matter unless it’s something like paint? Thanks

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

Answer:

For Masah (wiping) of the head to be valid, water must reach the hairs on the head. It is not required for the water to reach the roots/scalp (Badai Al Sanai, Vol 1, Pg 25-26). Therefore, as long as the hair is wet after Masah, it will be valid.

Paint and other such substances would form a barrier preventing water from reaching the hair. Such substances would need to be removed for Mas-h to be valid. If the dirt from the skin or bits in your hair does not prevent the water from reaching the hair, then they will not need to be removed.

إيصال الماء الي اصول الشعر ليس بفرض ، لان فيه حرجا فاقيم المسح علي الشعر مقام المسح علي اصوله … و لا يجوز المسح علي العمامةو القلنسوة لانهما يمنعان اصابة الماء الشعر

Only Allah knows best

Written by Alimah Zakiratul Hoque

Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham