Fatwa ID: 08072

Answered by: Alimah Shireen Mangera-Badat

Question:

Salaam, so I made a fresh wudu for isha after taking my makeup off, and it wasn’t until I finished wudu that I found what I think was a line of makeup, or I think it was from my eyes further up my eye area, and I took it off, but I had to rub it. Will this prevent the water from going on my face whilst doing wudu? I don’t know how this could’ve happened because I’m sure I ensured all the makeup was off.

Also, I have a problem with glitter too. I did try to take it off, but specs remained when I finished wudu. Does this prevent water from reaching the skin? It’s glitter that you need a light to see.

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيْم

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

Answer:

One of the conditions for the completion of wudu is the performance of the four fara’id (obligatory acts) as mentioned in the Quran in Surah Al-Ma’idah: 6, “O you who have believed, when you rise to [perform] prayer, wash your faces and your forearms to the elbows and wipe over your heads and [wash] your feet to the ankles…”[1] One of these is washing the face. 1 For wudu to be accepted, the water needs to penetrate the skin.  
1.
Fard and Sunnah of Wudu: Demystified Simple – Fajr Al-Quran Academy

www.fajralquran.com

This understanding comes from the Hadith narrated in Bukhari 243:

Jabir reported:

‘Umar b. Khattab said that a person performed ablution and left a small part equal to the space of a nail (unwashed). The Apostle of Allah (peace be upon him) saw that and said: Go back and perform ablution well. He then went back (performed ablution well) and offered the prayer.[2]

From this Hadith, we understand that even if it was only a small unwashed area where water did not reach, the requirement was to repeat the wudu. Therefore, if you noticed that water did not reach parts of your face due to the residual makeup line, then you would be required to repeat the wudu.

With regards to the glitter, as facial glitter is almost less than an atom’s worth and can only be seen through visible light, and you mentioned that you tried your utmost best to remove all traces with all means possible, your wudu would be accepted. This is based on the principle that Shari’ah aims to manage actions objectively, to prevent harm, and to achieve benefit.[3]

I hope that this answers the question.

Only Allah knows best.

Written by
Alimah Shireen Mangera-Badat
Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah
Darul Ifta Birmingham

[1] يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِذَا قُمْتُمْ إِلَى الصَّلَاةِ فَاغْسِلُوا وُجُوهَكُمْ وَأَيْدِيَكُمْ إِلَى الْمَرَافِقِ وَامْسَحُوا بِرُءُوسِكُمْ وَأَرْجُلَكُمْ إِلَى الْكَعْبَيْنِ.

[2] حَدَّثَنِي سَلَمَةُ بْنُ شَبِيبٍ، حَدَّثَنَا الْحَسَنُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ أَعْيَنَ، حَدَّثَنَا مَعْقِلٌ، عَنْ أَبِي الزُّبَيْرِ، عَنْ جَابِرٍ، أَخْبَرَنِي عُمَرُ بْنُ الْخَطَّابِ، أَنَّ رَجُلاً، تَوَضَّأَ فَتَرَكَ مَوْضِعَ ظُفُرٍ عَلَى قَدَمِهِ فَأَبْصَرَهُ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ ‏ “‏ ارْجِعْ فَأَحْسِنْ وُضُوءَكَ ‏”‏ ‏.‏ فَرَجَعَ ثُمَّ صَلَّ
رد المختار ص-١/٢٠٤

[3] وَيَدْفَعُ الْمَفَاسِد………..،……….
الاقتصاد الإسلامي- ص ٤-