Can I Skip Washing My Face in Wudu Due to Medical Reasons?

Answered by Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat

Question

Assalamu Alaikum,

I am having issues using my medication creams for acne/scars on my face. I need to use them day and night, but it’s not possible because I need to wash my face during wudu multiple times per day.

The benefits of medication are gone after washing my face. What should I do?

Answer

Wa ‘alayukum assalam was rahmatullah was barakatuh.

I pray you are well.

If it is possible to gently wash your face after having applied the cream so that the water does not remove the creams, your wudu will be valid. If that is not possible, you can wipe a moist hand over your face without removing the cream. This will be valid, and you just have to make sure most of your face is wiped. (al Hadiyya al Ala’iyya – Ala al Din b. Abidin)

These two solutions should be sufficient. If they are not, you can leave the washing of your face and do the rest of the actions of wudu’.

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May Allah grant you the best of both worlds.

[Shaykh] Abdul-Rahim

 

Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat began his studies in Arabic Grammar and Morphology in 2005. After graduating with a degree in English and History, he moved to Damascus in 2007, where, for 18 months, he studied with many erudite scholars. In late 2008 he moved to Amman, Jordan, where he continued his studies for the next six years in Sacred Law (fiqh), legal theory (Usul al-fiqh), theology, hadith methodology, hadith commentary, and Logic. He was also given licenses of mastery in the science of Quranic recital. He was able to study an extensive curriculum of Quranic sciences, tafsir, Arabic grammar, and Arabic eloquence.