The wudu of a person with a chronic excuse (ma'zoor)
The easier rules for wounds, bandages, and a condition that keeps breaking wudu faster than it can be renewed.
Sometimes washing a part of wudu would really hurt, like on a wound. Islam makes this easier for you.
If washing would hurt
- If washing a part would hurt you, or make an injury worse, you do not have to wash it: just wipe it with a wet hand instead.
- If even wiping would hurt, leave that part alone completely.
If you have a bandage
- If taking the bandage off would hurt, wipe over the top of the bandage instead of washing underneath it.
- If wiping the bandage would also hurt, leave it alone and do not wipe it either.
- If taking the bandage off does not hurt and putting it back on afterwards is easy, take it off, wash the wound if that does not hurt, and put the bandage back afterwards.If washing the wound itself would hurt, wash the rest of the limb and wipe over the wound instead; if even wiping the wound would hurt, put the bandage back and wipe over it.
Some people have an illness that keeps breaking their wudu all the time, like a wound that will not stop bleeding, or a constant need to go to the toilet. If there is never a moment free of it before a prayer, that person makes a fresh wudu for each prayer time, and can use that one wudu for every prayer of that time, even ones they missed before. Their wudu breaks again once that prayer's time ends. This carries on until they get better.
Some people are given easier rules because washing, or even wiping, a part of wudu would cause them harm. This page explains those rules, and the special case of a person whose wudu keeps breaking faster than it can be renewed.
| Case | What to do |
|---|---|
| Removing the bandage would cause harm, whether or not washing would also be harmful | Wipe over the whole bandage. If even wiping is harmful, leave it as it is. |
| Removing the bandage would not cause harm, but reapplying it afterwards would be difficult | Wipe over the whole bandage. If even wiping is harmful, leave it as it is. |
| Neither removing nor reapplying the bandage is difficult | Remove it and wash the limb. If washing the wound itself is harmful, wash the rest of the limb and wipe over the wound; if wiping the wound is also harmful, put the bandage back on and wipe over it instead. |
Certain concessions are made where washing, or even wiping, a part of wudu would cause harm. This page sets out those concessions, and the ruling for a person whose wudu is broken continuously, faster than it can be renewed.
| Case | Ruling |
|---|---|
| Removing the bandage would cause harm, regardless of whether washing beneath it would also be harmful | Wipe over the entire bandage. If even this is harmful, leave it untouched. |
| Removing the bandage would not itself be harmful, but reapplying it afterwards would be difficult | Wipe over the entire bandage. If even this is harmful, leave it untouched. |
| Neither removing nor reapplying the bandage presents any difficulty | Remove it and wash the limb beneath. If washing the wound itself is harmful, wash the rest of the limb and wipe over the wound; if even wiping the wound is harmful, reapply the bandage and wipe over it instead. |
Terms on this page
Related
- The conditions for wudu to be valid What must be true for wudu to count: water reaching every part, no barrier on the skin, and the exception for a chronic excuse.
- How to make ghusl, step by step The full sunnah method of ghusl in order, from washing the hands to the final pouring, with the notes that make it valid.
- Wiping over the socks (masah over khuffayn) When you may wipe over your socks instead of washing your feet, for how long, and what ends the concession.
- How to make tayammum, step by step The two strikes and full wiping that make up tayammum, its sunnahs, the method in order, and what breaks it.