Question:

Is my wudu valid?

I was told to apply sunblock to my face and I read that it was water resistant for 4 hours. Due to a misunderstandIng regarding the fiqh behind waterproof creams, I thought when the creams Is applied it becomes part of the skin. (I based this on what I learnt about dough getting stuck in women's fingers and how it is permissible to do wudu over that because It becomes part of her; hukman.)

However, I just found out that waterproof creams/cosmetics act as a barrier which prevent water from reaching the skin, hence wudu Is InvalId. This has started to greatly stress me, as I might have read a few prayers where I performed wudu over the cream. What should I do?? My prayers might have been Invlaid and I can't remember the number of prayers I performed In that state, so I can't make them up. Am I sinful for my misunderstandIng? I feel so unbelievably distressed about this and I have made Istighfaar for my Ignorance.

Answer:

A person should refer to scholars about the rulings of Fiqh and desist from employing one's own reasoning. The issue of dough is different to cosmetics and creams for which reason the same ruling will not apply. In the case of dough the Fatwa given by some jurists was that wudu will be permitted as it was a widespread problem women faced. Ibn Abideen in Rad al-Muhtar, makes clear the basis of this dispensation was need, vol.1 p.288-289. Furthermore it is doubtful whether this fatwa would be given today, firstly because of the existence of new cleaning detergents that help in removing any residue and secondly because in the culture we live in less and less people kneed flour with their hands, thus the need if it exists is not widespread. In any case, if the cream you employed prevented the water from reaching the skin, all prayers prayed in this state will need to be repeated. if you are unable remember the number of prayers, you should make a reasonable estimate. As for the question of sin, it would seem it was an understandable mistake, nevertheless one should ask for forgiveness out of precaution.

Mufti Mohammed Sajjad

Wallahu Aalam bis-sawab

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The answer to this question is the opinion of the scholar and does not reflect the opinion of other scholars of As-Suffa Institute and As-Suffa Institute as an organisation.