How Should I Handle Ritual Impurity If a Medical Condition Prevents Me from Using Water for Purification?
Answered by Ustadh Sufyan Qufi
Question
I have a suspected fungal infection, and water worsens the rash, so I am using tayammum. I worry about it spreading to my face and potentially affecting my eyes. How should I handle ritual impurity in this situation?
Answer
In the name of Allah, Most Compassionate, Most Merciful,
The basis in your situation is not to perform Tayamum but to wash with water the healthy parts of your body and wipe with water the parts of your body affected by the skin condition. If even wiping those parts will be harmful, you can leave them completely dry and untouched. [Ibn Abidin, Radd al-Muhtar]
It is only if half of your body or more has been affected by the illness that you are allowed to perform Tayamum. When it comes to Ghusl, you will be allowed to perform Tayamum if the area affected by your skin condition covers half or more of your body. When it comes to Wudu, you will only have to count the limbs that are obligatory to be purified in Wudu. If half of them or more have been affected by the skin condition, then Tayamum will be permissible. [Ibid]
If you are health issues prevent you from performing Wudu and Tayamum safely then you will be allowed to pray without purifying yourself. You won’t have to repeat those prayers. [Shurunbulali, Nur al-Idah]
Please ensure that you are in this situation by relying on past experiences and personal judgment or by consulting a Muslim doctor aware of the sacred law.
Allah, Most High, says: “Allah desires ease for you; He does not desire difficulty for you.” [2.185]
And Allah knows best.
[Ustadh] Sufyan Qufi
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat
Ustadh Sufyan Qufi is an advanced seeker of knowledge, originally from Algeria, who grew up in France. He began searching for ways to learn Islam reliably and was disappointed at the answers he found locally.
Then he connected with various traditional teachers and gradually connected with SeekersGuidance. He embarked on his journey of learning through the various teachers at SeekersGuidance, including his mentor Shaykh Faraz Rabbani.
He studied numerous texts in Islamic Law, Theology, Hadith, and other areas with Shaykh Faraz Rabbani and other teachers, including Shaykh Abdurrahman al-Sha‘ar, Shaykh Ali Hani, and others.
He is an active instructor at SeekersGuidance and answers questions through the SeekersGuidance Answers Service.
