Some girls and women love to put on nail polish to make their nails look pretty, but then comes the question, Can you read Quran and pray with nail polish on? Let’s find out.
Can you read Quran with nail polish on? Yes, you can read Quran with nail polish on, but only if you performed wudu before you applied nail polish or if you are going to read Quran from memory or your smartphone.
Now if you want to know what Islam says about nail polish, and if you can pray with it or not, then keep reading.
you want to know more about Islam and what it says about nail polish then keep reading. You can also learn if you can read the Quran without Hijab here.
Is nail polish haram in Islam?

Nail polish is not mentioned in Quran nor in hadiths. So it is not haram to put on nail polish. However Islamic scholars and Muslim communities all agreed on the same thing, it is not acceptable to perform wudu with nail polish on.
Nail polish creates a thick coat over the nails that are waterproof, though preventing the wudu (ablution) from being complete.
One condition of praying is to be in the state of taharah (purification) and to be valid water must touch the skin. Anything that prevents water from reaching the skin should be removed, like nail polish, paint, makeup, and so on. Otherwise, any prayer that you perform in that state will not be valid.
The prophet (peace and blessing be upon him said) to Abu Dharr: “If you find water, then let it touch your skin, for that is good.” [Narrated by Abu Dawood]
Imam al-Shaafa’i Rahimahullah said:
“If there is on him any mastic or anything thick that will prevent the water from reaching the skin, his washing of that part for wudhu’ is not valid, unless he removes it or removes enough so that he knows that there is no barrier to the water touching the skin.”
Al-Nawawi Rahimahullah said:
“If there is wax, dough, henna, and the like on one of his limbs, which prevents water from reaching any part of it, then his taharah is not valid, whether the amount is large or small. If there are traces of henna and its color left on the hand, without there being any solid material left, or elsewhere, or traces of liquid grease whereby water flows over the limb but does not stay there, his taharah is valid.”
So, nail polish is not haram in Islam however it is not allowed to make wudu with it on. Because it will prevent water from reaching the nails, and they must be washed to complete the Wudu.
When can I put on the nail polish?
As we said nail polish is not haram, but you can’t perform wudu with it. But you can put it after you finish the last prayer and go out. Then remove it again before performing wudu for praying Fajr or Qiam el lail (night prayer).
Also, you can make wudu then put on the nail polish, praying with nail polish is not haram. Nail polish doesn’t contain anything that is not pure or forbidden by Islam or Sharia.
There are many brands that make Islamic nail polish or what is called Halal nail polish, but it’s not yet clear whether it is okay to perform wudu with it or not. As some brands stop water from reaching the nails.
And you never know which one will really be okay to perform wudu with. So it is better to follow one of the other methods discussed above.
Can I pray with nail polish?
Yes, if you made Wudu before applying nail polish. Because nail polish applies a thick coat over your nails, which is water-resistant, meaning that it doesn’t allow water to go through it. So if you are going out and want to apply nail polish then make wudu then apply it.
Can Muslims do nail polish?
Yes, Muslim women can do nail polish. Nail polish is not mentioned in Quran nor in hadiths. So it is not haram to put it on. However, you should keep in mind that it is not valid to perform Wudu with nail polish on. All Islamic scholars agreed on that.
Is nail polish allowed in Islam?
Yes, it is allowed in Islam, and nothing says that it is haram. Just don’t forget to remove it before performing Wudu.
Is it okay to put on breathable nail polish while praying or reading Quran?
Many companies came out with nail polish that can be applied and then pray with it. They call it Islamic nail polish, halal nail polish, or breathable nail polish. They claim that it is okay to pray with it and that it allows water to reach your nails which doesn’t invalidate the Wudu.
There are some tests made to test those claims and to see if it really does allow water to go through while performing Wudu. However, the research found that breathable nail polish doesn’t allow water to go through.
So, to make sure that your prayer is valid remove the nail polish then perform Wudu. And if you want to go out then apply it again and go have fun.
Conclusion:
Nail polish is not haram.
You can pray with nail polish on but only if you performed wudu before applying it. Because nail polish applies a thick coat over your nails, which is water-resistant, meaning that it doesn’t allow water to go through it. So if you are going out and want to apply nail polish then make wudu then apply it.
You can read Quran with nail polish on as long as you made wudu before you apply the nail polish. Or if you are going to read from your smartphone or from memory.
And to answer the when can you apply the nail polish we said that you can put it after you finish the five daily prayers or make Wudu then apply it if you are going out.
If you want to learn more about Islam and Quran visit our website, Quranclasses.com, and have fun.