Clear, practical guidance for prayer after rhinoplasty: when to wipe over the dressing, when to do tayammum, and how to pray without bending your head
One challenge after rhinoplasty is how to perform wudu (ablution) following nose surgery. In this article we aim to guide you through that question.
Rhinoplasty is one of the most common cosmetic operations and is used to correct aesthetic flaws and functional problems. Because the surgery alters the nasal bones, cartilage and skin, careful aftercare is necessary. To protect the nose the surgeon typically applies a nasal splint and adhesive tape.
To stabilise the nose and avoid damage, a nasal splint and tape are required after surgery. You should also avoid wetting the splint and dressings for about a week, so normally the usual conditions for wudu and ghusl are not available. Although it is possible to wash the body and even wash hair using a handheld shower, washing the face and the entire head will usually not be possible. Fortunately, Islam provides rulings for wudu and ghusl when there is a wound or dressing; such protection applied to a wound is called a jabeerah.
When water would harm the wound or it is impossible to get water onto the wound, one should wash around the wound and, if the jabeerah is clean, perform masah (wiping) over it. If the jabeerah is impure or it is not possible to touch its surface with wet hands, then, out of caution, place a clean cloth that becomes part of the jabeerah and wipe over that with wet hands. If the whole place for tayammum (dry ablution) or part of it is unobstructed, one should also perform tayammum.
If something is stuck to the area required for wudu or ghusl and cannot be removed, one must follow the rules for the jabeerah. As a matter of obligatory caution, if the area for tayammum is wholly or partly unobstructed, one should perform tayammum as well. A person who does not know whether they should perform tayammum or a masah-style wudu should, out of caution, perform both.
A ghusl-jabeerah (ghusl with a dressing) is similar to a wudu-jabeerah: wipe (masah) over the dressing and wash the parts of the body that are free of dressing. It is preferable to observe the proper order when performing these acts; doing them by mere contact (without order) may invalidate them.
A common question after surgery is whether the patient can pray. Lowering the head in the early weeks can increase swelling, inflammation and the risk of bleeding. For this reason patients are advised to avoid bending or lowering the head in the first weeks. Since rukūʿ (bowing) and sujūd (prostration) normally require the head to be fully lowered, performing the prayer in the usual way may not be possible. That does not mean the patient is prevented from praying: Islam provides rulings that make prayer possible in these situations.
In the first days after surgery there may be discharge or even bleeding; in such cases it is preferable to perform the missed prayers (qada) later. But if bleeding has ceased, one may perform wudu according to the rules above and then perform the prayer. Because patients should avoid lowering the head, Islam permits adaptations described as follows.
If the patient cannot pray standing, they should pray sitting. While seated, if they cannot bend sufficiently, they should bend as far as they can for rukūʿ and sujūd and place the prayer stone (mohr) on the forehead with the hand.
If a person has a valid excuse and cannot perform sujūd in the usual manner and conditions, it is permissible to prostrate while seated, even on a table, provided they keep the prostration conditions as far as possible. For example, if able, they should place the big toe on the ground during sujūd and position the hands parallel to the place of prostration.
Tip |
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Do not wet the nasal splint or dressings for roughly one week after surgery; wash the rest of the body with care (handheld shower can help). |
If water cannot reach a wound or would harm it, wash around the wound and — if the dressing (jabeerah) is clean — wipe over the dressing (masah). |
If the dressing is impure or cannot be touched, place a clean cloth that becomes part of the dressing and wipe over it with wet hands; perform tayammum if appropriate. |
If unsure whether to perform masah or tayammum, do both out of caution. |
Avoid lowering your head while healing; if you cannot stand, pray sitting and perform rukūʿ and sujūd as much as your condition allows (use a mohr on the forehead). |
If unsure about medical or fiqh details in your case, consult a qualified medical professional and a knowledgeable religious authority. |
