5 Shar‘i Rulings Regarding Artificial Teeth During Wudu and Ghusl
Taken from: Fatāwā al-Dīn al-Khāliṣ, Vol. 1, Page 376
Is it necessary to remove artificial teeth during wudu and ghusl?
If a person has fitted artificial teeth, or has reinforced their teeth with metal wires or gold, is it necessary to remove them during wudu or ghusl? What if the teeth are filled with bone, plastic, or other materials — is removal necessary?
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu was-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh. ʾAmma baʿd:
① It is not obligatory to remove artificial teeth during wudu or ghusl.
✔ Rinsing the mouth is sufficient in such cases.
② If teeth are filled with materials like bone, plastic, etc., there is no requirement to ensure water reaches inside or beneath them.
✔ Their ruling is akin to the inner parts of the body, where water is not obligatory to reach.
✔ It is authentically reported that gold wires were used to secure teeth.
✔ The Prophet ﷺ did not command the removal of such dental fittings.
Imām Abū Dāwūd رحمه الله in Sunan (2/796) included a chapter:
"Bāb Hadhā al-Asnān bil-Dhahab"
“Chapter on Binding the Teeth with Gold.”
✔ “This falls under necessity, and removing them causes excessive difficulty.”
✔ “In Sharīʿah, hardship is lifted, hence washing without removal is valid.”
✔ “Fuqahāʾ have stated that fitting gold teeth or reinforcing teeth with gold is permissible.”
✔ “Had this invalidated wudu or ghusl, the ruling would have been different.”
✔ “If a person’s tooth is fixed, removal is not obligatory.”
✔ “It is like a ring: removing it during wudu is recommended, not obligatory.”
✔ “The Prophet ﷺ wore a ring, and there is no report that he removed it during wudu.”
✔ “Yet, removing a ring is easier than removing a tooth—this highlights Sharīʿah’s ease.”
① There is no need to remove artificial teeth during wudu or ghusl.
② Water does not need to reach underneath filled or wired teeth.
③ These matters are excused due to hardship, as per the principle:
"Hardship necessitates ease."
④ This issue is comparable to inner body parts, where water is not obligatory.
⑤ Permissibility and validity of wudu and ghusl remain intact with such dental conditions.
ھٰذَا مَا عِنْدِی وَاللّٰهُ أَعْلَمُ بِالصَّوَابِ
Taken from: Fatāwā al-Dīn al-Khāliṣ, Vol. 1, Page 376
❖ Issue:
Is it necessary to remove artificial teeth during wudu and ghusl?
❖ Question:
If a person has fitted artificial teeth, or has reinforced their teeth with metal wires or gold, is it necessary to remove them during wudu or ghusl? What if the teeth are filled with bone, plastic, or other materials — is removal necessary?
❖ Answer:
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu was-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh. ʾAmma baʿd:
✿ Ruling on Artificial Teeth and Dental Fillings:
① It is not obligatory to remove artificial teeth during wudu or ghusl.
✔ Rinsing the mouth is sufficient in such cases.
② If teeth are filled with materials like bone, plastic, etc., there is no requirement to ensure water reaches inside or beneath them.
✔ Their ruling is akin to the inner parts of the body, where water is not obligatory to reach.
✦ Practice of the Prophet ﷺ:
✔ It is authentically reported that gold wires were used to secure teeth.
✔ The Prophet ﷺ did not command the removal of such dental fittings.
Imām Abū Dāwūd رحمه الله in Sunan (2/796) included a chapter:
"Bāb Hadhā al-Asnān bil-Dhahab"
“Chapter on Binding the Teeth with Gold.”
✦ Fatāwā of Prominent Scholars:
➤ Mawlānā Rashīd Aḥmad Gangohī رحمه الله (Fatāwā Rashīdiyyah: 2/32):
✔ “This falls under necessity, and removing them causes excessive difficulty.”
✔ “In Sharīʿah, hardship is lifted, hence washing without removal is valid.”
✔ “Fuqahāʾ have stated that fitting gold teeth or reinforcing teeth with gold is permissible.”
✔ “Had this invalidated wudu or ghusl, the ruling would have been different.”
➤ Imām Ibn ʿUthaymīn رحمه الله (Fatāwā Ibn ʿUthaymīn: 4/140):
✔ “If a person’s tooth is fixed, removal is not obligatory.”
✔ “It is like a ring: removing it during wudu is recommended, not obligatory.”
✔ “The Prophet ﷺ wore a ring, and there is no report that he removed it during wudu.”
✔ “Yet, removing a ring is easier than removing a tooth—this highlights Sharīʿah’s ease.”
❖ Summary of Rulings:
① There is no need to remove artificial teeth during wudu or ghusl.
② Water does not need to reach underneath filled or wired teeth.
③ These matters are excused due to hardship, as per the principle:
"Hardship necessitates ease."
④ This issue is comparable to inner body parts, where water is not obligatory.
⑤ Permissibility and validity of wudu and ghusl remain intact with such dental conditions.
ھٰذَا مَا عِنْدِی وَاللّٰهُ أَعْلَمُ بِالصَّوَابِ
