Is Wudu Valid With “Breathable” Nail Polish?

Answered by Shaykh Faraz A. Khan

Question: A lot of the younger girls in the community are asking about a new breathable nail polish that apparently allows water to go through.

Could you please discuss whether this new nail polish would allow for a valid wudu?

Answer: Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullah,

I pray this finds you in the best of health and states.

A condition for the validity of wudu is washing the limb, ‘washing’ meaning causing water to flow over the area such that it drips, with a minimum of two drops [Maraqi al-Falah; Radd al-Muhtar].

Nail polish acts as a barrier that prevents such washing, thereby rendering wudu invalid. If a new ‘breathable’ nail polish allowed water to seep through, then it still remains questionable as to whether the entire nail will be sufficiently washed. Considering the immense gravity and importance of salat, it is not worth taking the risk.

And Allah knows best.
wassalam
Faraz

Checked & Approved by Faraz Rabbani