Q: A woman who has poor eyesight intends to perform Hajj this year. She asks if it is permissible for her to wear Niqab (face veil) to cover her face except the eyes then wear a transparent veil to see her way? Am I sinful if I do this?" May Allah reward you well!

A: There is no blame upon the woman to do this unless she is in Ihram (ritual state for Hajj and ‘Umrah). This is because the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said: "A woman who is in the state of Ihram should neither wear Niqab (face veil) nor gloves." However, a woman who is in the state of Ihram is permitted to cover her face with something else as mentioned in the Hadith reported by ‘Aisha (رضی اللہ عنھا). Allah is the One who grants success.

[Majmoo 'al-Fataawa Ibn Baaz, Vol.: 17; pg. 143]

41- How to perform Wudu’ while swimming in the sea

Q: A brother from Al-Zulfiy in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia asks: Should I perform Wudu’ (ablution) before, after or during bathing? Is it permissible to perform Wudu’ while swimming in the sea? Please, advise us, may Allah reward you!

A: There is no harm if you perform Wudu' before or after taking a bath. However, if one is performing Ghusl (full ritual bath following major ritual impurity), they should start with Wudu’ following the example of the Prophet (ﷺ)

It is permissible to perform Wudu' while swimming in the sea, provided that one follows the sequence of Wudu'. One should begin with the face, right hand then the left, wipe over the head, their ears, the right foot, and finally the left foot. May Allah grant us all success!

[Majmoo 'al-Fataawa Ibn Baaz, Vol.: 29; pp. 61 - 62]

43- Ruling on wiping the hair in Wudu’ after applying oil to it

Q: Does hair oil invalidate Wudu’ (ablution)? - Shaykh Ibn Baaz - https://t.me/MajmooF/8312

43- Ruling on wiping the hair in Wudu’ after applying oil to it

Q: Does hair oil invalidate Wudu’ (ablution)?

A: Applying oil or any other kind of hair creams has nothing to do with wiping the hair in Wudu’ or Ghusl (ritual bath following major ritual impurity) after Janabah (major ritual impurity related to sexual discharge)^ menstruation or postpartum period. It was authentically reported on the authority of Um Salamah (رضي الله عنها) that she said, "O Messenger of Allah, I am a woman who closely plaits hair on my head; should I undo it when bathing for major impurity?” The Prophet said : “No, it is enough for you to throw three handfuls of water on your head and pour water over your body, and then you are purified." (Related by Muslim in his Sahih (authentic) Book of Hadith) There are many proofs that confirm this.

[Majmoo 'al-Fataawa Ibn Baaz, Vol.: 29; pg. 64]

44- The ruling on reciting Qur'an without performing Wudu’

Q: Is it permissible to recite the Qur'an without performing Wudu’ (ablution)? Who are "the purified"?

A: It is permissible to recite the Qur'an without performing Wudu' provided that you do not touch the Mus-haf (Arabic Qur'an), but you recite what you memorize. However, it is not permissible to touch the Mus-haf unless in a state of Taharah (ritual purification). "The purified" [Surah al-Waqi’a: 79] referred to in Allah's (تعالى) Saying : “Which (that Book with Allah) none can touch but the purified (i.e. the angels).” are those who are Tahir (ritually pure) of major and minor ritual impurity according to some scholars. However, the more authentic opinion is that it refers to the angels. As for a person who is Junub (in a state of major ritual impurity), it is not permissible for them to recite any of the Qur'an, whether out of memory or while holding the Mus-haf (Qur'an, the Book), according to what was authentically reported from "Aly (رضي الله عنه) that he said: “There was nothing to hinder the Prophet (ﷺ) from reciting the Qur'an except being in a state of Janabah (major ritual impurity related to sexual discharge).”

[Majmoo 'al-Fataawa Ibn Baaz, Vol.: 29; pg. 64]

Q: Should a teacher be in state of Taharah (ritual purification) when teaching the Noble Qur'an from the Mus-haf (Qur'an, the Book) or not?

A: No one should touch the Mus-haf unless they are in a state of Taharah, according to the Jurnhur (dominant majority of scholars) and the Four Imams (Abu Hanifah, Malik, Al-Shaf’y, and Ahmad, رحمهما الله) . It is narrated on the authority of ‘Amr ibn Hazm that the Prophet (ﷺ) said: "None should touch the Qur'an except one who is pure." The Isnad (chain of narrators) of this Hadith is good and was related by Abu Dawud as well as others as a Hadith Muttasil (a Hadith with a continuous chain of narration to a Companion of the Prophet or Follower; the generation after the Prophets Companions) and a Hadith Mursal (a Hadith with no Companion of the Prophet in the chain of narration). This is the opinion of the Sahabah (Companions of the Prophet). May Allah grant us success!

[Majmoo 'al-Fataawa Ibn Baaz, Vol.: 29; pg. 65]

45- Ruling on a child being in a state of impurity while reciting the Qur'an

Q: In school, there are children who memorize the Qur'an, but they cannot remain Tahir (ritually pure) for a long time. Is it obligatory on children to perform Wudu" (ablution) in order to hold the Mus-haf (Qur'an, the Book)?

A: If those children are above seven years old, their parents or guardians should order therm to do so, because it is not permissible to touch the Mus-haf except for a person who is Tahir, according to the evidence of Shari’ah (Islamic law) mentioned in this regard. As for those who are under seven years of age, it is not permissible for them to hold the Mus-haf, even if they perform Wudu', because they are under the age of discrimination.

[Majmoo ‘al-Fataawa Ibn Baaz, Vol.: 29; pg. 66]

Chapter on wiping over Khuffs

46- Clarification of the time limit for wiping over the socks

Q: How can we wipe over the socks? Before offering Fajr (dawn) Prayer, I perform Wudu’ (ablution) and then I wear the socks. When I am outside home, since I work as a teacher, and want to perform Wudu’, I wipe over my socks and when I am at home I take them off and perform Wudu" normally. Is this act permissible?

A: There is nothing wrong with doing so. There is no harm if you wear and wipe over the socks or Khuffs (leather socks) - if you wish- for one day and one night if you are not travelling. You can take them off whenever you like even if you offered only one Salah while wearing them. You enjoy Rukhsah (concession) of wiping over the socks and Khuflfe that you wear in a state of Taharah (ritual purification) for twenty four hours. As for the traveller, they may wipe over the socks for three days and three nights i.e., seventy two hours after performing Wudu'. In short, there is no harm if you wipe over the socks for one or two Salahs then take them off.

[Majmoo ‘al-Fataawa Ibn Baaz, Vol.: 29; pg. 67]

47- Conditions of wiping over the socks

Q: What are the conditions that should be met for a Muslim to wipe over their socks?

A: A Muslim should be pure before wearing the socks. When Al-Mughirah wanted to take off his Khuffs (leather socks), the Prophet (ﷺ) said: “Leave them, for I have performed Wudu’ (ablution) before putting them on.” If they want to wipe over the socks, they should perform Wudu’ before wearing them, whether they are a man or a woman, a resident or a traveller. The socks should be thick and covering the feet, with the exception of some small tears according to the most authentic opinion.

Wiping is valid for a certain period of time, which is a day and a night for a resident, and three days and nights for a traveller, not more than this.

If these three conditions are met, a Muslim may wipe over the socks and Khufs, whether they are a man or a woman.

[Majmoo ‘al-Fataawa Ibn Baaz, Vol.: 29; pg. 68]

Shaykh ‘Abdul-‘Aziz ibn Baaz (رحمه الله تعالى رحمة واسعة) said:

❝...It is not an obligation to wipe over the heels or the underside of the socks, but the Sunnah is to wipe over the upper side...❞ - https://t.me/MajmooF/8325

Shaykh ‘Abdul-‘Aziz ibn Baaz (رحمه الله تعالى رحمة واسعة) said:

❝...It is not an obligation to wipe over the heels or the underside of the socks, but the Sunnah is to wipe over the upper side only, because of what is authentically reported from ‘Aly (رضي الله عنه) that he said: ❝If religion was a matter of opinion, the underside of the leather socks (subjected to dirt) would be more deserving to be wiped than its upper side but I have seen the Prophet (ﷺ) wiping over the exterior of his leather socks.❞...❞

[Majmoo ‘al-Fataawa Ibn Baaz, Vol.: 29; pp. 69 - 70]

49- A question on wiping over socks and sandals

From Abdul "Aziz ibn Abdullah ibn Baz to the honorable brother, the manager of the primary school of teaching the Glorious Qur'an in Jeddah, may Allah safeguard him! As-salamu alaykum warahmatullah wa barakatuh (May Allah's Peace, Mercy, and Blessings be upon you!)

I have looked into your question registered at the Departments of Scholarly Research, Ifta’, Da’wah, and Guidance, no. 752, dated 24 Safar, 1407 A.H. You question some paragraphs mentioned in books of Fiqh (Islamic jurisprudence) of the fifth and sixth classes.

I inform you that it is permissible to wipe over the shoes and the apparent parts of the socks. In this case, the ruling will apply to both of them; when you take off the shoes after impurity, you should take off the socks as well and perform the Wudu’ (ablution) again to be able to offer Salah (Prayer). If you wipe over the socks rather than the shoes, this is sufficient provided that the socks cover the parts which are obligatory to wash during Wudu’ . So, there is nothing wrong with taking off the shoes to perform Salah or for any other purpose. May Allah grant us all success! As-salamu ‘alaykum warahmatullah wabarakatuh

Chairman of the Departments of Scholarly Research, Ifta’, Da’wah, and Guidance

[Majmoo ‘al-Fataawa Ibn Baaz, Vol.: 29; pg. 72]