No, Ghusl is not considered complete with nail polish on. To perform a valid Ghusl (ritual bath), all parts of the body must be thoroughly cleansed, and nail polish prevents water from reaching the nails.
Understanding Ghusl and the Importance of Water Reaching the Skin
Ghusl is a crucial Islamic ritual purification, requiring the complete washing of the body. This necessitates that water reaches every part of the skin, including the nails. Nail polish acts as a barrier, preventing this crucial contact and rendering the Ghusl incomplete. Several sources confirm this: IslamQA explicitly states that nail polish prevents proper Wudu (ablution) and Ghusl. The World Federation of Islamic Scholars similarly indicates that if nail polish prevents water from reaching the nails, the Ghusl is affected. A Reddit thread on r/Muslim (https://www.reddit.com/r/Muslim/comments/17oodi0/i-did-ghusul-but-realised-i-had-nail-polish-on/) discusses a similar scenario, concluding that the affected areas (nails) need to be washed.
What to Do if You Performed Ghusl with Nail Polish
If you've already performed Ghusl with nail polish, the solution is straightforward:
- Remove the nail polish: Carefully remove the nail polish from your fingernails and toenails.
- Re-wash the affected areas: Thoroughly wash your nails, ensuring complete water contact. While some sources suggest redoing the entire Ghusl (https://www.quora.com/Can-I-perform-ghusl-while-wearing-nail-polish-What-should-I-do-if-I-did), others suggest simply re-washing the nails (https://www.reddit.com/r/Muslim/comments/17oodi0/i-did-ghusul-but-realised-i-had-nail-polish-on/). However, for complete certainty, redoing the Ghusl is recommended.
Prevention is Key
To avoid this issue in the future:
- Remove nail polish before Ghusl: Make it a habit to remove nail polish before performing Ghusl. This ensures the validity of your ritual purification.
