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:

Between two fingers of my right foot I have fungal growth which, for some reason, is not curing, now for a very long time. Is it ok if I just wipe wet hands (i.e. do masah) on cotton/woolen/nylon socks while performing wudu. I fully understand that when the socks would be put initially, I should have performed wudu. Kindly let me know the answer.

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Answer:

How to do wudu if fungal growth on feet

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 none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

If has been reported in an authentic narration from Said al-Mughirah ibn Shu'bah, who said, "I was with the Messenger of Allah (saws), one night during an expedition.  I poured water for him (saws) to make ablution. He (saws) washed his face and arms and wiped his head. Then I went to remove his socks and he (saws) said, 'Leave them on, as I put them on while I was in a state of purity,' and he (saws) just wiped over them."

Al-Humaidi related in his Musnad that al-Mughirah reported, "We said, 'O Messenger of Allah (saws), may we wipe over our socks?' He (saws) said, 'Yes, if you put them on while you were in a state of purity."

It has been reported by Hammam an Nakha'i who said, "Jarir ibn 'Abdullah urinated, performed ablution and wiped over his socks." It was said to him, "You do that and you have urinated?" He said, "Yes, I saw the Messenger of Allah (saws) urinate, and then do (wudu) likewise."

In light of the above and several other authentic narrations, it is permissible for one to wipe his wet hands over his socks when refreshing his ablution, as long as the condition is met that when he did put on the socks he was in a state of ‘wudu

If one has fungal growth between his toes and to allow the same to heal you have to keep away from water/moisture there is no harm if you make masaah on the foot whilst taking care not to wet the toes.

Alternatively performing wudhu, you can wipe your feet dry, put the necessary medication wherever applicable and put on your socks. You can then be available for prayers for maximum 24 hours by performing wudhu but doing masaah on the socks. As long as you do not remove the socks you can do masaah on it.

The other alternative is to cover the toes with a waterproof bandage and do the masaah on the foot and keep the toes dry.

For medical reasons one is permitted to keep that part of the body dry. This will not invalidate your wudhu.

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter5 Surah Maidah verse 6: O you who have believed!   When you rise to offer the Salat,  you must wash your faces and hands and your arms up to the elbows,  and wipe your hands with wet hands and wash your feet up to the ankles.   And if you become unclean,  cleanse yourself with a full bath.  If,  however,  you have ‘touched’ women and you can find no water,  then cleanse yourselves with pure dust.   Strike your palms on it and wipe your hands and faces with it.   Allah does not will to make life hard for you,  but He wills to purify you,  and complete His blessings upon you so that you may show gratitude.

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

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

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