Question
Reference number: 373488 | Purity | Oct. 14, 2025
Does using clear nail polish affect purity (ritual cleanliness)? Peace be upon you. My question is: I had gel like clear nail polish on my nails and I forgot to remove it when I took a bath after my menstrual period. I remembered that I didn’t remove it only after I had already performed the prayer. What is the ruling on that? Should I repeat the ritual bath for prayer after removing the gel, or is it enough to just perform ablution? And do I have to repeat the prayers as well?
Answer
Praise Be to Allah and Peace Be Upon His Messenger.
If, when a woman performs the ritual bath (ghusl) after menstruation, there is a layer of gel or nail polish on her nails that prevents water from reaching the surface of the nail, then the ghusl is invalid. This is because one of the conditions for a valid ghusl is that water must reach the entire body, including the nails. If there is something that blocks the water, the ghusl becomes invalid.
Accordingly:
If the woman performed ghusl while this impermeable polish was on her nails, and then prayed with that ghusl, the ghusl is invalid, the prayer is not valid, and she must:
- Completely remove the layer of polish.
- Repeat the ghusl with the intention of lifting major impurity.
- Repeat the prayers she performed after the invalid ghusl.
However, if the polish is only a color or a very thin layer that does not prevent water from penetrating to the nail, then the ghusl is valid and nothing is required of her.
And Allah knows best.
