Ruling on Wiping Over a Scarf (Dupatta) During Wudu for Women Source:
This article is derived from the book 500 Questions & Answers for Women, a compilation of Fatawa by the Scholars of the Haramain. Translated by Hafiz Abdullah Saleem.
❖ Question:
Is it permissible for a woman to wipe over her scarf (dupatta) instead of directly wiping over her head during wudu?
❖ Answer:
According to the well-known view of Imam Ahmad رحمه الله, it is permissible for a woman to wipe over her scarf (dupatta) on the condition that:
✔ The scarf is wrapped under her chin and around the back of her neck, securing the head properly.
This ruling is based on reports from some female Companions (Ṣaḥābiyāt رضی اللہ عنهن) who practiced this.
❖ Allowance in Case of Hardship:
If a woman faces difficulty in removing her scarf due to:
- Cold weather, or
- Inconvenience in removing and rewrapping it properly,
then there is no harm in exercising leniency and wiping over the scarf.
❖ However, the Better and Preferred Way:
The more virtuous and preferable practice is that a woman should not wipe over the scarf, but rather wipe directly over her head, as originally prescribed in the Sunnah.
(Fatwa by: Shaykh Muḥammad ibn Ṣāliḥ al-‘Uthaymīn رحمه الله)❖ Summary:
✔ A woman may wipe over her scarf during wudu if:
– The scarf is securely wrapped under the chin and around the head,
– And hardship exists in removing it.
✘ However, directly wiping over the head is always better and preferred.
