Question: Assalamualikum, when I am making wudu my clothes tend to lose some little threads that get stuck in my nails, they are difficult to remove especially in the toenails. My question is do these threads prevent water from reaching the skin and nails. Is my wudu valid if I washed my arms and legs and the threads remained under the nails?
Answer:
In the name of Allah, Most Compassionate, Most Merciful,
Jazakum Allah khayr for your question!
You can assume that a thread under one of your nails will not constitute a barrier preventing water to reach the skin.
This is because of the flowing and subtle nature of water.
Nonetheless, you should make a point to keep your nails short. Not cutting nails or trimming pubic and armpit hair past 40 days is sinful.
Trimming the nails is from the prophetic traditions. The fuqaha explain that:
1. It is sunnah to trim them once every week, preferably before the Friday prayer.
2. To delay their trimming for 15 days is permissible.
3. After 15 days, it becomes blameworthy and disliked.
4. To go beyond 40 days without trimming them is sinful.
[Tahtawi’s Hashiya on Maraqi Al-Falah]
And Allah knows best.
I hope that the above answers your question. If something is unclear please do not hesitate to ask again.
May Allah Most High grant you the best of this world and the next. Please keep us in your du’as!
Wassalam