Q: As nail polish nullifies wudhu, is it okay for one with onychophagia (nail biting disorder which is part of the OCD spectrum) to wear clear nail polish or bitter tasting nail polish to prevent her or himself from biting as it is damaging to the skin around the nail, cuticles, etc and puts the person at a risk of infection if they don’t take steps to stop nail biting or is it still haram despite the health risk?
A: The polish could be used after Esha and removed at Fajr. Since it is not porous the wudhu will be incomplete.
( و ) لا يمنع ( ما على ظفر صباغ ) … به يفتى
و في رد المحتار : قوله ( به يفتى ) صرح به في الخلاصة وقال لأن الماء شيء لطيف يصل تحته غالبا ا هـ ويرد عليه ما قدمناه آنفا ومفاده عدم الجواز إذا علم أنه لم يصل الماء تحته قال في الحلية وهو أثبت (رد المحتار 1/154)
Answered by:
Mufti Ebrahim Salejee (Isipingo Beach)