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Is wudoo’ valid if there are traces of makeup?

Question

Is it permissible to do wudoo’ with makeup on one's face?.

Answer

Praise be to Allaah. In order for wudoo’ to be valid it is essential to remove anything that may prevent the water from reaching the skin, such as wax, dough, sticky substances and the like, so that the purpose of washing those parts of the body in wudoo’ may be achieved.
Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“O you who believe! When you intend to offer As-Salaah (the prayer), wash your faces and your hands (forearms) up to the elbows, rub (by passing wet hands over) your heads, and (wash) your feet up to the ankles”
[al-Maa’idah 5:6]
It says in al-Insaaf (1/144): Among the conditions of wudoo’ being valid is removing anything that may prevent water reaching that part of the body.
Al-Nawawi said in al-Mawdoo’ (1/492): If there is any wax, dough or henna’ etc on his body and that prevents the water from reaching any part of that limb, then his wudoo’ is not valid, whether there is a lot of that or a little. If there is any trace or colour of henna left on the hand etc, but not the henna itself, or there is a trace of fat or oil such that when the water touches the skin it will run over it, but not stay, then his wudoo’ is valid. End quote.
From this is may be understood that if makeup has been removed before doing wudoo’ and only the colour is left, then wudoo’ is valid. Based on this, if the makeup prevents the water from reaching the skin, then wudoo’ is not valid, but if it is just colour or there is a little of it left that does not prevent the water reaching the skin, then wudoo’ is valid.
And Allaah knows best.


Source: Islam Q&A