Can Wudu Be Valid Over Thick Makeup Covering a Vitiligo Mark?
Hanafi Fiqh
Answered by Shaykh Yusuf Weltch
Question
My friend has vitiligo on her eye and uses thick camouflage makeup to avoid judgmental stares that affect her self-esteem. Removing it for each wudu is costly and time-consuming, so she splashes water over it instead of rubbing.
Given that vitiligo is a medical condition and not for beautification, is this permissible, especially since Islam allows ease, like washing over a prosthetic limb if removal is difficult?
Answer
In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate.
Before answering, it is pertinent to recognize that these types of tests are from Allah Most High and a great means of raising the person’s rank of nearness to Allah Most High. These are forms of mercy from Allah Most High and are usually very spiritually advantageous.
Many of the righteous of the past had similar skin defects and drew nearer to Allah Most High through them. Among them was the great Uways al-Qarni.
That said, although the vitiligo is something that the Sacred Law would permit makeup to cover when going in public, caution must be taken regarding purification. If the makeup is thick, it will prevent water from reaching the skin beneath.
Options
Perhaps, a less expensive makeup can be used, and each time one wants to perform ablution (wudu), they can first remove the makeup, perform the ablution, and then reapply it. More expensive makeup can be used for special occasions and be applied after ablution is already made.
Compared to a Prosthetic Limb
Despite the aesthetic similarity, the legal ruling of washing a prosthetic limb does not share the same legal reasoning here.
Turning to Allah
Among the benefits of this type of tribulation is that one quickly begins to learn to disregard what people may think or say in preference for what Allah Most High thinks of the person.
The Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) said,
“Indeed, Allah does not look at your (outward) appearances, nor at your wealth; rather, He looks at your hearts and your deeds.” [Muslim]
Hope this helps
Allah knows best
[Shaykh] Yusuf Weltch
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
Shaykh Yusuf Weltch is a teacher of Arabic, Islamic law, and spirituality. After accepting Islam in 2008, he went on to study at Darul Uloom Seminary in New York and completed his studies at Darul Mustafa in Tarim, Yemen.
There, he completed the memorization of the Quran and his study of Islamic Sciences. Throughout his years of study, he was blessed to learn from many great scholars: Habib Umar bin Hafiz, Habib Kazhim al-Saqqaf, Shaykh ‘Umar bin Husayn al-Khatib, and others.
Upon returning, he joined the SeekersGuidance faculty in the summer of 2019.
