Q: After having performed Salah (prayer), someone discovered that there was an impervious substance, such as wax, that prevented water reaching the skin of two body parts that are required to be washed in Wudu’ (ablution). What should he do? Should Wudu' be performed again due to cutting the nails?

A: All praise be to Allah Alone, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger, and his family and Companions. All the obligatory body parts of Wudu’ must be washed in compliance to the Command of Allah (which means): O you who believe! When you intend to offer As-Salât (the prayer), wash your faces and your hands (forearms) up to the elbows (Part No. 5; Page No. 221) This is also substantiated by the action of the Prophet (peace be upon him) and the clarification given in authentic Hadith concerning the necessity of washing the obligatory body parts of Wudu’. Accordingly, if a person finds after performing Salah that there is an impervious substance that prevents water from reaching the skin of the parts of the body necessarily washed in Wudu’ or some of them, he is obliged to remove this barrier and perform Wudu’ and Salah again. With regard to cutting the nails, it is neither essential nor preferable to perform Wudu’ again.May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.