Fatwaa.net - Fatawa | Is it permissible to wipe over the head for ablution when applying henna or oil treatment, especially if it is a treatment that must remain on the hair for 6 hours to be effective? How can we perform ablution in this case? Is it treated like wiping over a bandage? And while traveling, is it permissible to wipe over a head covering, given that we must remove the head covering for ablution due to the presence of non-mahrams? We have heard that the Prophet ﷺ wiped over his turban?

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11 / 04 / 2026

The Permissibility of Wiping Over the Head

Question

Is it permissible to wipe over the head for ablution when applying henna or oil treatment, especially if it is a treatment that must remain on the hair for 6 hours to be effective? How can we perform ablution in this case? Is it treated like wiping over a bandage? And while traveling, is it permissible to wipe over a head covering, given that we must remove the head covering for ablution due to the presence of non-mahrams? We have heard that the Prophet ﷺ wiped over his turban?

Answer

I say, and with God's help: Henna and oil baths do not prevent water from reaching the skin during ablution, so it is permissible to wipe with them present. It is not sufficient to limit the wiping to the head covering; one must wipe the head itself. It is also permissible to insert the hand into the hair from behind the ear. And God knows best.

The Permissibility of Wiping Over the Head

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