Fatwa by: Sheikh Muhammad bin Salih Al-Uthaymeen (may Allah preserve him)
Question:
I have heard from some scholars that oil acts as a barrier, preventing water from reaching the body during wudu (ablution). Sometimes, while cooking, a few drops of oil fall onto my hair or wudu body parts. Is it necessary to wash these parts with soap before wudu or ghusl (ritual bath) to ensure that water can reach them? Additionally, I occasionally apply oil to my hair for treatment purposes. What should I do in such situations? Kindly inform me.
Answer:
Before answering this question, I would like to present the following command from Allah:
“O you who believe! When you stand up for prayer, wash your faces and your hands up to the elbows, wipe your heads, and wash your feet up to the ankles.”
[Surah Al-Ma'idah, 5:6]
The obligation to wash these parts and wipe the head requires the removal of anything that would prevent water from reaching the wudu body parts. If something remains on these parts, the wudu will not be valid as the parts will not be properly washed. Therefore, we can say that when a person applies oil to the wudu body parts, there are two possible scenarios:
Question:
I have heard from some scholars that oil acts as a barrier, preventing water from reaching the body during wudu (ablution). Sometimes, while cooking, a few drops of oil fall onto my hair or wudu body parts. Is it necessary to wash these parts with soap before wudu or ghusl (ritual bath) to ensure that water can reach them? Additionally, I occasionally apply oil to my hair for treatment purposes. What should I do in such situations? Kindly inform me.
Answer:
Before answering this question, I would like to present the following command from Allah:
“O you who believe! When you stand up for prayer, wash your faces and your hands up to the elbows, wipe your heads, and wash your feet up to the ankles.”
[Surah Al-Ma'idah, 5:6]
The obligation to wash these parts and wipe the head requires the removal of anything that would prevent water from reaching the wudu body parts. If something remains on these parts, the wudu will not be valid as the parts will not be properly washed. Therefore, we can say that when a person applies oil to the wudu body parts, there are two possible scenarios:
- Solid Oil:
If the oil is solid or thick, it must be removed before wudu because, in this case, it will act as a barrier, preventing the water from reaching the skin. If the oil remains in its thick form, purification will not be achieved. - Liquid Oil:
If the oil is liquid and not thick, and its effect is merely present on the wudu parts, then it is not harmful. In this situation, it is necessary to ensure that water reaches all parts of the wudu. Since oil generally does not mix with water, sometimes water may not reach the wudu body parts.