Question
Salam Imam, if someone wears a bandage or dressing on his foot, and it wraps around his foot almost like a sock, leaving the ankle and toe exposed, he would wipe over it. However, when he removes the bandage or dressing, should he remake wudu if he already wiped over it before? JazakAllahu khayran.
Answer
Alhamdulillah, wassalatu wassalamu ala rasulillah, wa ala alihi wa sahbihi ajmain.
1. Wiping Over Bandages in Shari‘ah
The fuqaha agreed that wiping over a medical bandage or dressing is permissible when washing would cause harm. This is based on the usul principle: “al-maysur la yasqut bil-ma‘ṣur” — “what can be done is not dropped because of what cannot be done.”
- Thus, if part of the limb can be washed, it must be washed; and if part is covered by a bandage, it is sufficient to wipe over the covering.
This is supported by the hadith of Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him) regarding a man injured on his head: the Prophet ﷺ said: “It would have been enough for him to perform tayammum, wrap a bandage around his wound, wipe over it, and wash the rest of his body.” (Abu Dawud, Ibn Majah, authenticated by al-Albani).
2. If the Bandage is Removed After Wiping
- Maliki position: The wudu and salah remain valid even if the bandage is later removed, because the Prophet ﷺ permitted wiping over the jabira and did not require repeating wudu after its removal. This is the stronger view supported by the nas.
- Other madhhabs (Hanafi, Shafi‘i, Hanbali): They generally require washing the area once the covering is removed, if one is still in wudu and the wound has healed. Otherwise, if unable, the wiping suffices.
3. Usul Principle Applied
The principle “al-badl yahkum hukm al-mubdal” — “the substitute takes the ruling of the original” — also applies. Wiping over the bandage takes the place of washing the limb. Once the bandage is removed and the limb is healthy, the original ruling (washing) applies moving forward, but past prayers remain valid.
Final Ruling
- Wiping over a bandage is valid when washing would cause harm.
- If the bandage is removed after wiping:
- According to the Maliki opinion (supported by hadith of masah ‘ala jabira), the wudu and past prayers remain valid without needing to redo them.
- According to other madhhabs, one should wash the limb if possible, but if not, the wiping suffices.
- The safer practice is to wash the area once it heals, but there is no obligation to repeat past wudu or salah.
And Allah knows best.