How should a person who just had an operation make ghusl? Is ghusl permissible if I wipe over the parts that have bandage? How should a person wash the places that are covered with sticking plasters or bandage while making wudu?

I had a nose operation and I have to make ghusl but I cannot make ghusl because I am not allowed to wash my nose and sniff water into my nose. Is it permissible to make ghusl without sniffing water into my nose due to this necessity? Shall I be held responsible because I do not have ghusl now?

Dear Brother / Sister,

It is not permissible to remain without ghusl long enough to pass a prayer time. For, a person misses a fard prayer by doing so.

If the parts which are obligatory to be washed during ghusl must not be wetted, they are wiped with wet hands; but if wiping is harmful, this person can avoid doing this.

The cloths which are put over the wounds or injured organs are called bandage. If there is bandage over the body parts which are necessary to be washed during wudu or ghusl and if removing and washing them is harmful, the bandage over these parts is wiped over and they are regarded to be washed.

The bandage over the broken feet which are made of wood or metal is regarded as the same. The wound which is covered with medicine is regarded the same too.

There is no need to wipe the whole bandage. It would be enough to wipe the majority of the bandage.

There is no definite time period for the bandage which is wiped over. As long as this state of excuse continues, the excused person can continue wiping. The parts which have no bandage are washed.

There is no obligation for the bandages to be put over during the state of wudu.

If the bandage over the injured part which is not healed yet fall or is changed, the wiping is not invalidated. That is, it is not necessary to renew the wiping when the new bandage is put. The state of wudu continues. The thing which invalidates wiping over the bandage is the complete healing of the wound.

If bathing harms because of a surgery or a wound, this excused person performs his/her worship by performing only tayammum. (Dry ablution)

- What is the duration of the wiping (mash) over bandage?

The wiping which is made over bandage has no a time limit. The body part which has bandage is wiped when a new wudu (ablution) is made after it is broken. There is no need to make wudu all the time. (Celal Yıldırım, Kaynaklarıyla İslam Fıkhı, Uysal Kitabevi: 1/101.)

Questions on Islam