[Q 572] Wudu and Ghusl with Wig

QUESTION:

I have a question, a brother who did not have sufficient knowledge and due to him being bullied at work because of his boldness went and has got human hair fixed via a permanent glue on top of his skin. He states its not possible for the hair to be removed, what will be the ruling on his wudu and ghousal?

ANSWER:

In the mentioned situation, it is necessary to make a possible attempt to remove the wig. Therefore, with the consultation of a doctor, he should try to remove it using some chemical or the like. Then, upon the skin underneath it, he should perform masah (wiping) in wudu (ablution) and wash it in ghusal (ritual bath).

If, despite making a possible attempt, it is not feasible to remove the wig, such that removing it would result in mashaqqat (hardship) and zarar (harm), and there is a fear that the skin may peel off and cause pain upon removing it, then due to haraj (undue hardship) and difficulty, washing the portion beneath the wig will be excused. In that state, the wudu (ablution) and ghusal (ritual bath) will be valid even while it remains attached, and the prayer will also be valid. In such a case, the ruling will be to perform masah (wiping) over it and to pour water over it.

It is stated in Fatawa Razawiyyah:

“Haraj (undue hardship) has three forms:

First: That there is harm in delivering water there, such as inside the eye.
Second: That there is difficulty, such as a woman’s tightly braided plait.
Third: After knowledge and awareness, there is no harm or difficulty, but there is hardship in its care and maintenance, such as the droppings of flies or mosquitoes, or tangled and knotted hair.

The exemption in the first and second categories is apparent, and in the third category, after awareness, removing the obstacle is necessary. For example, in the mentioned situations, if henna, kohl, flour, ink, dye, droppings, etc., are seen to have accumulated somewhere, then it should not be left as it is while water is merely poured over it; rather, it should be removed, because in removing it there was no hardship at all—rather the difficulty was only in its maintenance. After awareness, there is no longer any need for that.”

(Fatawa Razawiyyah, Volume 01, Part Two, Page 611)

Answered by: Mubashir Attari (AskMufti Scholar)
Verified by: Mufti Sajid Attari
Translated answer
Date: 25th February 2026.