Do I Have to Remove Coconut Oil from My Skin before Wudu?

Answered by Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat

Question

I suffer from dermatitis/eczema. Fingertips crack and bleed with continued contact with water, and my face & limbs become itchy and painful due to the resulting dryness.
I use coconut and olive oil on my face and limbs – and this relieves me. Do I need to remove the oil before every wudu?

Answer

I pray you are well.

No, you don’t have to remove the oil before wudu, especially if doing so will lead to harm. Your wudu is valid as it is. [Shurunbulali, Maraqi al Falah; Tahtawi, Hashiya Maraqi al Falah]

May Allah give you relief and heal you.
[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 and he was able to study an extensive curriculum of Quranic sciences, tafsir, Arabic grammar, and Arabic eloquence.