Applying soap, cream and ointment to the skin of the fasting person

16-9-2009 | IslamWeb

Question:

Is it permissible for the Muslim to wash his face with water and soap and shave his beard with shaving creams and foam while fasting in Ramadhaan? May Allaah reward you.
Answer:

All perfect praise be to Allaah, the Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His Slave and Messenger.

 

It is permissible to wash the face with water and soap while fasting. The eminent scholar Ibn Baaz may Allaah have mercy upon him said, "It is permissible for the fasting person to use soap, creams, henna, makeup, and the like which beautify the face and are applied to the skin." The eminent scholar Ibn ‘Uthaymeen may Allaah have mercy upon him said, "All types of ointment which are applied to the face, back or any other part of the body do not affect the fasting or break it." Therefore, creams and shaving foam do not break the fast.

However, shaving the beard is prohibited and it is not permissible for the Muslim to do it either on a day in Ramadan or at any other time, and it is worthier for the fasting person to avoid shaving the beard. The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: "Whoever does not eschew false statements, acting according to them and ignorance, Allaah has no need that he should abstain from his food and his drink." [Al-Bukhari]

No doubt, shaving beards pertains to a form of ignorance that the fasting Muslim must avoid because it is disobedience to Allaah The Almighty.

Allaah Knows best.

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