Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

AsalaamuAlaikum

May Allah bless you and reward you for your efforts.

My question is regarding nail polish...There are many women in my community who preform wudo and apply nail polish, then during the day if wudo needs to be repeated just wipe over the nail polish during wudo instead of removing it...Their reasoning being that it is the same as wiping over socks. Is this an acceptable practice? 

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Answer:

Wiping over Nail Polish

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol, no person,  no grave, no prophet,  no imam,  no dai,  nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

There is absolutely no harm or restriction in Islam regarding the application and adornment of nail-polish for the believing women, if they wish to do so. 

If the woman performs her wudu and then applies the nail-polish, she will considered to be in the state of wudu and can make herself available to offer her prayers until she breaks the wudu.

One amongst the obligatory condition of wudu is the washing of the hands in such a way that no part of it remains dry.  The absolute majority of the scholars are of the opinion that the nail-polish of a woman is not porous, and because the water is not able to touch her nails, one of the obligatory conditions of wudu is not fulfilled and thus the wudu of a woman over her nail-polish would not be valid; and the prayers offered without a valid wudu would be invalid in the Sight of Allah Subhanah.

The ‘wiping’ over the socks is a specific permission of the Messenger of Allah (saws), and this argument absolutely cannot be used as evidence to ‘wipe over the nail-polish’!!  The absolute majority of the scholars and jurists are of the opinion that the woman must remove her nail-polish before she does her wudu. 

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone.  Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan