Do Tiny Specks of Glitter Prevent the Validity of Wudu?

Answered by Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat

Question

I believe that glitter creates a barrier and wudu with it is not valid.

I’m talking about extremely fine cosmetic-grade glitter as I use it often. Even after removing and washing up several times I can still see specks of it under different lights. Do I need to constantly check?

Answer

Thank you for your question.

Your wudu and ghusl are valid. The tiny specks of glitter are unlikely to be a barrier to the water which will, most likely, get through them during washing.

You are not expected to check anything, and you can assume the water has washed under any residual traces you see. A normal, sunna wudu ensues reasonable certainty that water has reached the entire limb, and that is all we are expected to have [Shurunbulali, Maraqi al-Falah]

You should study the Fiqh of purification as this will alleviate your concerns and waswasa.

May Allah grant you the best of both worlds.

Wassalam,
[Shaykh] Abdul-Rahim Reasat

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 to study and sit at the feet of some of the most erudite scholars of our time.

Over the following eighteen months he studied a traditional curriculum, studying with scholars such as Shaykh Adnan Darwish, Shaykh Abdurrahman Arjan, Shaykh Hussain Darwish and Shaykh Muhammad Darwish.

In late 2008 he moved to Amman, Jordan, where he continued his studies for the next six years, in Fiqh, Usul al-Fiqh, Theology, Hadith Methodology and Commentary, Shama’il, and Logic with teachers such as Dr Ashraf Muneeb, Dr Salah Abu’l-Hajj, Dr Hamza al-Bakri, Shaykh Ahmad Hasanat, Dr Mansur Abu Zina amongst others. He was also given two licences of mastery in the science of Qur’anic recital by Shakh Samir Jabr and Shaykh Yahya Qandil.

His true passion, however, arose in the presence of Shaykh Ali Hani, considered by many to be one of the foremost tafsir scholars of our time who provided him with the keys to the vast knowledge of the Quran. With Shaykh Ali, he was able to study an extensive curriculum of Qur’anic Sciences, Tafsir, Arabic Grammar, and Rhetoric.

When he finally left Jordan for the UK in 2014, Shaykh Ali gave him his distinct blessing and still recommends students in the UK to seek out Shaykh Abdul-Rahim for Quranic studies. Since his return he has trained as a therapist and has helped a number of people overcome emotional and psychosomatic issues. He is a keen promoter of emotional and mental health.