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Fatwa CenterApplying petroleum jelly, oil, or cream before ablution
Question
I have read your fatwas on ablution and the application of creams, oils, and so on, but I would prefer a personal answer because of the specific nature of my question. When we apply petroleum jelly, oil, or cream on our face and hands, it does not really form a layer that does not allow water to run off or has to be scraped clean. So does this mean that we do not have to use soap to wash off the cream or oil or whatever before performing ablution? Please clarify...
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad 
is His slave and Messenger.
What determines if a substance prevents water from reaching the skin is whether or not it has a thickness that prevents water from reaching the skin, but if it was just a color, like henna, then it does not affect ablution. Also, if something has a thickness but it dissolves and is removed with the water when washing it, in a way that the water reaches the skin, then this does not affect ablution either.
An-Nawawi 
said, “If a person has some wax, dough, henna, or the like on one of his limbs and it prevents water from reaching part of that limb, then his purity is not valid regardless of whether there is much or little of this substance present. However, if the trace of henna or its color remains on the hand or on any other body part, but its very essence is no longer there, or if the trace of a liquid fat (like oil) remains in a way that the water reaches the skin and it runs on it but does not stay on it, then his purity is valid.”
Based on the above, if the oil, jelly or cream that you use does not prevent the water from reaching the skin, then your ablution is valid with the presence of these substances. It is not obligatory to wash it with soap or with any other item before performing ablution. But if the cream, oil, or jelly prevents the water from reaching the skin, then they must be removed before making ablution, even if this means washing it with soap or with any other item, because what is necessary for fulfilling an obligation is an obligation in itself.
Allah knows best.
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