[Q 152] Leading Namaz (Prayer) after wiping over bandage

Question

Zaid is an imam. He has a bandage on his foot due to an injury. It is difficult to remove the bandage because it is feared that the wound will worsen. Therefore, he wipes it. Can Zaid lead the prayer?

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

الجواب بعون الملك الوهاب اللهم هداية الحق والصواب

Answer

If it is true that removing the bandage will cause harm to the wound, then the ruling is that if it is possible, he should pour water over the bandage from above. And if pouring water over the bandage from above will also cause harm, then it will be sufficient to wipe it. In addition, if the other conditions for leading the prayer are met, Zaid can also lead the prayer. Because a person who washes the organ can follow the one who wipes over the bandage.

The details of this issue are as follows:
When a bandage is applied to a wound, it is necessary to pour water over the wound(after removing the bandage) if it is possible to do so while performing wudu or ghusl.

If pouring water over the wound causes harm, then wipe the wound. If wiping the wound also causes harm, or if the person is not able to open and tie the bandage, then pour water over the bandage from above. If pouring water over the bandage from above also causes harm, then it is permissible to wipe it. Then, if wiping it also causes harm, then the wiping will also be waived.

Then, as the wound heals, the ruling is to perform as much as is possible. ForPrayer with congregation example, if he is able to wipe, then he should wipe immediately. Then, if he is able to pour water over the bandage from above, then he should pour water over the bandage. If he recovers enough that wiping the wound does not cause harm, then he should wipe the wound. Then, when he is able to wash the wound, then he should wash it.

It is mentioned in Tanveer ul Absar with Al-Dur ul Mukhtar:

(ويجوز) أي يصح مسحها (ولو شدت بلا وضوء) وغسل دفعاً للحرج (ويترك) المسح كالغسل (إن ضر، وإلا لا) يترك (وهو) أي مسحها (مشروط بالعجز عن مسح) نفس الموضع (فإن قدر عليه فلا مسح) عليها. والحاصل لزوم غسل المحل ولو بماء حار، فإن ضر مسحه، فإن ضر مسحها، فإن ضر سقط أصلاً … (والرجل والمرأة والمحدث والجنب في المسح عليها وعلى توابعهما سواء) اتفاقا

(Tanweer al-Absaar with Al-Dur al-Mukhtar, Kitab al-Taharah, Chapter Al-Mush Alal-Khafin, Volume 1, Page 280, Dar al-Fikr, Beirut)

It is stated in Darr al-Hukkam:

وإنما يجوز المسح على الجبيرة إذا عجز عن مسح الموضع أي موضع الجبيرة بأن كان يضره الماء أو كانت مشدودة يضر حلها أما إذا كان قادرا على مسحه فلا يجوز مسح الجبيرة. وفي المحيط ينبغي أن يحفظ هذا فإن الناس عنه غافلون

(Darr al-Hukkam, Kitab al-Taharah, Chapter Al-Mush Alal-Khafin, Volume 1, Page 38, Dar Ihya al-Kitab al-Arabiya)

It is stated in Majma al-Anhar:

وفي مختارات النوازل وإنما يجوز المسح عليها إذا كان الماء يضر الجراحة إذا غسلها فإذا أضر يمسح على الجراحة، وإن أضر يمسح على الجبيرة، وإن أضر المسح على الجبيرة سقط المسح

(Majma al-Anhar, Kitab al-Taharah, Chapter Al-Mush Alal-Khafin, Volume 1, Page 50, Dar Ihya al-Tarath al-Arabi)

It is stated in Muraqi al-Falah, Sharh Noor al-Idah:

“وصح اقتداء غاسل بماسح علی خف أو جبيرة أو خرقة قرحة لا يسيل منها شيء“

(Muraqi al-Falah, Sharh Noor al-Idah, Kitab al-Salaat, chapter al-Imamah, page 112, al-Muktab al-Asriyyah

Answered by: Mufti Sajid Attari

Translated by: Usman Attari