I heard from one of the shaykhs that oil is considered a barrier on the skin during wudu', and I sometimes, when I am working in the kitchen, have some drops of oil fall...
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The questioner : I heard from one of the shaykhs that oil is considered a barrier on the skin during wudu', and I sometimes, when I am working in the kitchen, have some drops of oil fall on my hair and the limbs of wudu'. So, when performing wudu', is it necessary to wash these limbs with soap before wudu' or ghusl so that the water reaches them? Also, I apply some oil to my hair as a treatment for it?
The Shaykh : Before answering this question, I would like to clarify that Allah the Exalted said in His clear Book:[Al-Ma'idah 5:6] The command to wash these limbs and wipe those that are wiped necessitates removing anything that prevents water from reaching them, because if something prevents water from reaching them, then their washing is not valid.
Based on this, we say that if a person uses oil on the limbs of his purification:
Either the oil remains solid with a substance, in which case it is necessary to remove it before purifying his limbs. If the oil remains in this solid form, it prevents water from reaching the skin, and in that case, the purification is not valid.
However, if the oil has no substance and only its effect remains on the limbs of purification, it does not harm. But in this case, it is emphasized that the person should pass his hand over the limb, because it is customary for the oil to mix with the water, and perhaps the water may not cover the entire limb being purified.
So, we say to the questioner: If this oil or grease on the limbs of your purification is solid with a substance that prevents water from reaching them, it is necessary to remove it before you purify yourself. If it has no substance, there is no blame on you for purifying yourself even if you do not wash it with soap, but you should pass your hand over the limb when washing it so that the water does not slip off it.
The Shaykh : Before answering this question, I would like to clarify that Allah the Exalted said in His clear Book:
O you who have believed, when you rise to [perform] prayer, wash your faces and your forearms to the elbows and wipe over your heads and wash your feet to the ankles
يا أيها الذين آمنوا إذا قمتم إلى الصلاة فاغسلوا وجوهكم وأيديكم إلى المرافق وامسحوا برؤوسكم وأرجلكم إلى الكعبينBased on this, we say that if a person uses oil on the limbs of his purification:
Either the oil remains solid with a substance, in which case it is necessary to remove it before purifying his limbs. If the oil remains in this solid form, it prevents water from reaching the skin, and in that case, the purification is not valid.
However, if the oil has no substance and only its effect remains on the limbs of purification, it does not harm. But in this case, it is emphasized that the person should pass his hand over the limb, because it is customary for the oil to mix with the water, and perhaps the water may not cover the entire limb being purified.
So, we say to the questioner: If this oil or grease on the limbs of your purification is solid with a substance that prevents water from reaching them, it is necessary to remove it before you purify yourself. If it has no substance, there is no blame on you for purifying yourself even if you do not wash it with soap, but you should pass your hand over the limb when washing it so that the water does not slip off it.