Answered by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
I’ve some skin disease on the upper part of my both feet. I put medication on them twice daily. Muslim doctors have asked me not to wet my feet since this will not help in the healing process. They have asked me not to wet my feet while doing wudu. If I try to wash only the bottom of my feet, the water comes on the top once I put my socks on. Sometimes it takes months or may be years for skin disease to go away. Will it be okay if I leave my feet while performing wudu for such a long time?
It is mentioned in al-Hadiyya al-`Ala’iyya of ` Ala ‘ al-Din Abidin:
If one has an eye infection such that would be harmful to wash the top of the eyelids, then it is permitted to wipe them if able. Otherwise, if wiping is also harmful, one may leave it. [F: And one’s ablutions and prayers are valid, and do not need to be repeated. ]
The same applies if a nail was broken and one needed to apply medicine over it, or if one applied medicine over cracks on one’s feet in order to prevent water or the like from harming them [Gifts of Guidance: A Complete Manual of Islam (al-Hadiyya al-`Ala’iyya)
Therefore, you do not need to wet you feet, as long as your excuse genuinely remains. You are considered to have a full, proper wudu in this case, and do not need to make up any prayers performed this way.
And Allah alone gives success.
Wassalam,
Faraz Rabbani.