You found Maya. Your heart lifted with hope as you scrolled through those stunning shades, reading words like “halal certified” and “wudu-friendly.” Finally, nail polish that might honor your faith and your beauty. But then came the whisper, soft yet persistent: “What if my wudu doesn’t count? What if my prayers aren’t accepted?”
You’re not imagining this struggle, sister. Thousands of Muslim women stand in beauty aisles or scroll through Instagram, caught between wanting to feel beautiful and fearing their connection with Allah might be compromised. The confusion is real because the advice is conflicting. Some sisters swear by breathable polish, others remove it five times daily, and your local imam might have yet another opinion.
Here’s what we need to understand together: “halal ingredients” is not the same as “wudu-friendly.” A product can be free from pork and alcohol yet still form a barrier that invalidates your ablution. The science of permeability doesn’t always match the marketing of breathability. And most importantly, when we stand before Allah in prayer, our hearts deserve certainty, not anxiety.
Let’s walk this path together, anchoring ourselves first in what the Qur’an and Sunnah teach about purification, then examining Maya’s actual claims versus the scientific reality, and finally arriving at a decision framework that brings you peace. This isn’t about judgment; it’s about clarity through an Islamic lens.
Keynote: Is Maya Nail Polish Really Halal
Maya nail polish carries halal ingredient certification from IFANCA and IDCP, confirming its formula is free from najis substances like pork derivatives. However, these certifications verify ingredients only, not water permeability for valid wudu. The critical Islamic question isn’t whether Maya contains halal ingredients but whether water can reach your nail plates during ablution as Allah commanded in Surah Al-Ma’idah.
The Foundation We Cannot Compromise: Water Must Reach Your Nails
Allah’s Clear Command for Washing in Wudu
“O you who believe, when you rise to perform prayer, wash your faces and your hands to the elbows…” (Surah Al-Ma’idah 5:6)
Allah’s command is clear and complete. The Arabic word for “wash” is ighsilu, which means water must flow over and touch the skin directly. It’s not just dampness or moisture in the air. Hands include nails in their natural state according to the understanding of classical scholars and the Arabic language itself.
This divine instruction is mercy guiding us to purity, not a burden. When Allah prescribes how to prepare for standing before Him, every detail carries wisdom and blessing.
The Prophet’s Warning About Missing Even Small Spots
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) once saw his companions performing wudu. He noticed a man whose heels remained dry. The Prophet’s warning was stark and direct: “Woe to the heels from the Hellfire.” (Sahih al-Bukhari 165, Sahih Muslim 241)
Another authentic narration describes how even a spot the size of a fingernail left dry during ablution can invalidate both the wudu and the prayers performed with it.
These aren’t meant to cause anxiety. They’re meant to teach us careful, conscious worship. A tiny barrier matters when we’re preparing to stand before our Creator. The Prophet was protecting us, showing us exactly what Allah requires so our prayers would be accepted.
What Scholars Mean by “Barrier” in Fiqh
Traditional nail polish forms an impermeable layer that scholars across all four madhabs say invalidates wudu. The principle is simple: any substance with physical mass that prevents water from reaching the skin must be removed before ablution.
The four schools of thought agree that water must reach nail plates naturally, without extreme effort or special techniques. You shouldn’t have to rub vigorously or soak your hands to make wudu valid. Water should flow and wet your nails just as it does the rest of your hands.
But here’s the important distinction: henna is permitted because it stains the skin without creating a physical blocking layer. The color sits within the skin’s surface cells, not on top as a barrier. This is why generations of Muslim women have beautified themselves with henna while praying five times daily without worry.
What Maya Actually Claims and What Their Certifications Really Cover
Their Headline Promises to Muslim Consumers
Maya Cosmetics markets itself with powerful language that speaks directly to the Muslim consumer’s heart. They call their polish halal certified, breathable, water permeable, and wudu-friendly. It’s everything you’ve been searching for, all in one bottle.
They emphasize their 9-Free formula, which means it’s free from harsh chemicals like formaldehyde, toluene, and dibutyl phthalate. Their PETA certification confirms the polish is vegan and cruelty-free, with no animal testing involved in production.
And here’s a detail many miss: Maya specifically instructs users to apply only one thin coat. This instruction is crucial for their permeability claims to hold any weight. Thick application or multiple layers change the entire equation.
IFANCA Certification: What It Actually Verifies
IFANCA (Islamic Food and Nutrition Council of America) is a respected halal certification body. When you see their logo on Maya’s packaging, it means something specific and important: the ingredients are free from pork derivatives and prohibited alcohol types.
This certification confirms the manufacturing process follows halal supply chain protocols. It means najis (impure) substances aren’t contaminating the product. For many cosmetics, this is exactly what you need to know.
But here’s what IFANCA certification does not verify: whether water permeates through the polish for wudu purposes. When Tuesday in Love, a competing halal nail polish brand, contacted IFANCA directly asking them to confirm Maya’s water permeability for prayer, IFANCA refused. They stated clearly that their certification scope covers ingredients and manufacturing only, not functional compliance with Islamic ritual requirements.
According to IFANCA’s certification standards, available on their official documentation, halal cosmetics certification verifies ingredient sources and production methods. The certification does not extend to testing whether a product maintains wudu validity during use.
SGS Labs Testing: The Breathability Confusion
Maya cites testing by SGS Laboratories as proof their polish is “water permeable.” SGS is a globally respected testing organization, and their involvement sounds reassuring. But we need to understand what they actually tested.
SGS Labs conducts ISO 15106 testing, which measures oxygen and water vapor transmission through polymer films. This is the standard test for “breathable” cosmetics and textiles. The test measures how much water vapor (not liquid water) can pass through the dried polish film over time.
Here’s the critical distinction: water vapor passing through is fundamentally different from liquid water flowing onto and wetting your nail plate. It’s like the difference between a fabric that wicks away sweat (vapor transmission) versus a fabric that lets rain soak through to your skin (liquid permeability).
The SGS lab itself, when contacted by researchers investigating breathable nail polish claims, stated their test methodology “would not be able to determine if a product is completely permeable to water to the extent you describe” for wudu purposes. Their test wasn’t designed to verify Islamic ablution requirements.
Maya’s Own Application Instructions
Maya provides specific directions for using their polish in a wudu-compliant manner. They instruct applying one thin coat only, allowing it to dry completely. Their wudu directions say to run water over your nails and rub gently for a full ten seconds during ablution.
They even encourage customers to perform their own filter test at home: apply polish to a coffee filter, let it dry, then see if water passes through.
But notice something important here: the brand admits that the thickness of application directly affects whether the polish might comply with wudu requirements. If you need multiple coats for full color payoff, or if you add a topcoat for shine and durability, you’ve potentially compromised any permeability that existed.
The Scientific Reality: Why “Breathable” Doesn’t Mean “Wudu-Friendly”
Understanding Polymer Structure and Water Molecules
Let’s talk chemistry for a moment, in simple terms. Breathable nail polish uses special polymers that create a matrix structure. This matrix has microscopic gaps that allow tiny molecules, like oxygen and water vapor, to pass through.
Wudu requires liquid water to flow onto and wet the nail surface beneath the polish. Liquid water molecules cluster together and need pathways significantly larger than what vapor requires. It’s the difference between steam escaping through porous fabric versus pouring water through that same fabric and having it come out the other side.
Think of it like a contact lens. Contact lenses are “breathable,” allowing oxygen to reach your cornea. But they’re not designed for water immersion. The lens doesn’t allow pool water to flow through and directly wet your eyeball. Oxygen permeability and water permeability are entirely different properties.
Current nail polish polymer technology achieves breathability, allowing air exchange that’s healthier for nails. But creating a durable, colorful film that also allows complete liquid water penetration to wet the nail underneath? Cosmetic chemists question whether this is physically possible with existing formulations.
The Home Tests Muslim Women Are Trying
Sisters around the world are conducting their own experiments. The most common is the coffee filter test: apply Maya polish to a paper filter, let it dry completely, then place water drops on top.
If the water beads up and sits on the surface without seeping through, that’s revealing. It indicates the dried polish forms a water-resistant barrier. Many users report exactly this result with Maya: water doesn’t penetrate without vigorous rubbing or prolonged soaking.
Some try the henna test: apply henna to nails, then paint Maya over it. If the henna stain appears darker beneath the polish after wetting, it might suggest pathways exist for water. But results are inconsistent and depend heavily on application thickness.
The problem with home tests is they don’t replicate actual wudu conditions. Your nails have natural oils. The polish interacts with your nail plate differently than with paper. And most importantly, during wudu you’re not aggressively rubbing or soaking. You’re washing normally, the way you would wash bare hands.
Expert Scientific Opinion on Current Formulations
Cosmetic scientists with decades of formulation experience have weighed in on breathable nail polish claims. Their professional opinion raises serious questions about the physics involved.
Creating a nail polish that maintains vibrant color, adheres durably to the nail for days, resists chipping from normal wear, and yet allows complete liquid water penetration to wet the nail surface beneath? These are contradictory requirements. A polish permeable enough to allow water to flow through would likely fail at color retention and durability.
Lab testing conditions also differ significantly from real-world use. Testing on filter paper in controlled conditions doesn’t account for how polish behaves on human nails with natural oils, or how the polymer matrix may tighten as the polish ages on your nail over several days.
The scientific consensus among experts not affiliated with breathable polish brands? Skepticism that current formulations can truly achieve both cosmetic performance and complete water permeability for ritual washing purposes.
Where Islamic Scholars Stand: From Caution to Conditional Permission
The Majority Traditional Position
The majority of classical scholars across all four madhabs advise removing any nail polish before performing wudu. Their reasoning is rooted in a fundamental principle: certainty cannot be overruled by doubt in acts of worship.
If you doubt whether water reached your nails during ablution, then your wudu is doubtful. And if your wudu is doubtful, every prayer you perform with that wudu is questionable in its acceptance before Allah.
This position prioritizes protecting the validity of your five daily prayers. It’s the safest path. When scholars don’t have definitive evidence that a new product truly allows water to reach the skin, they default to caution in matters of worship.
The Modern Conditional Approval
Some contemporary scholars have issued fatwas saying breathable nail polish is permissible if permeability is genuinely verified. Sheikh Ahmad Kutty, a respected Islamic scholar and resident scholar at the Islamic Institute of Toronto, has stated that if water truly reaches the nails through the polish, then it would be permissible for wudu.
Egypt’s Dar Al-Ifta, the official Islamic jurisprudence authority, gives similar guidance with heavy emphasis on the word “if.” If the polish doesn’t prevent water from reaching the nail surface, it may be permissible. The entire ruling hinges on that condition being met.
Notice the burden these scholars place on verification. It’s not enough for a brand to claim permeability. The individual Muslim must verify the claim through testing and personal confirmation. The responsibility for ensuring valid wudu remains with you.
The Principle of Leaving Doubtful Matters
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) taught us: “Leave that which makes you doubt for that which does not make you doubt.” (Sunan al-Tirmidhi)
Another narration expands this wisdom: “Halal is clear and haram is clear, and between them are doubtful matters about which many people do not know. Whoever avoids the doubtful matters has protected their religion and their honor.”
This isn’t about being extreme or making Islam harder than Allah intended. It’s about wisdom. When something is clearly halal, enjoy it. When something is clearly haram, avoid it. But when you’re uncertain, when doubt lingers in your heart, choosing the clearer path protects your worship and brings peace.
Your salah is too precious to gamble on marketing claims that even the certifying bodies won’t fully confirm.
Understanding Different Madhab Nuances
The four schools of Islamic jurisprudence have nuanced positions on barriers during wudu, though they converge on the core principle.
Hanafi scholars emphasize that water must reach the nail surface completely without any intervening barrier. Some Hanbali opinions historically allowed very thin stains (like henna) if water still makes direct contact with the skin beneath. Shafi’i and Maliki positions generally align with the requirement to remove any layer that has physical mass and creates separation.
All schools agree on this: water must flow naturally during wudu. You shouldn’t need to rub vigorously, soak your hands, or use special techniques to force water through a barrier. Natural washing should be sufficient, just as it is for bare skin.
The Industry Investigation: What Competitors Revealed About Maya
The Tuesday in Love Research Report
In 2023, Tuesday in Love, a Canadian halal beauty brand certified by ISNA (Islamic Society of North America), conducted a thorough investigation into competing breathable nail polish makers, including Maya. Their findings were eye-opening and deeply troubling for Muslim consumers.
They discovered that Maya’s certifications from IDCP (Islamic Dawa Council of the Philippines) and IFANCA explicitly cover ingredients and manufacturing processes only. The certificates do not verify or test for water permeability for wudu purposes.
Tuesday in Love called for industry-wide transparency and standardized wudu-specific testing protocols. They highlighted the dangerous gap between marketing language (wudu-friendly, permeable) and what certifications actually state in their fine print.
The Certification Gap That Creates Confusion
Here’s the harsh reality: many halal certifications for cosmetics audit ingredients and manufacturing supply chains. This is valuable for ensuring products don’t contain najis substances. But it’s not the same as testing whether a product maintains wudu validity.
Marketing materials often exceed what certifications actually verify. A brand might say “halal certified and wudu-friendly,” but the certification only confirms the first part. The second part remains an unverified claim.
No universal industry standard exists for testing nail polish wudu compliance. Different brands use different methodologies, if they test at all. This regulatory gap leaves sincere Muslim consumers trying to navigate conflicting information with incomplete data.
Why Malaysia’s JAKIM Won’t Certify Nail Polish
Malaysia’s Department of Islamic Development (JAKIM) is one of the world’s most respected halal certification authorities. They maintain strict standards and rigorous testing protocols.
And they refuse to certify any nail polish as halal for wudu purposes. Not Maya, not Tuesday in Love, not any brand claiming water permeability. Even water-permeable varieties remain too uncertain for JAKIM’s verification standards.
Why such a conservative stance? JAKIM applies the precautionary principle when worship validity is at stake. If there’s scientific doubt about whether a product truly allows complete water contact during ablution, they won’t risk giving it their seal of approval.
This regulatory approach protects Muslim consumers from potentially invalidating their prayers based on marketing claims that can’t be verified to their satisfaction.
Real Experiences: What Sisters Are Reporting
The Mixed Testing Results at Home
My friend Khadija in London tried Maya after seeing it all over her Instagram feed. She conducted the coffee filter test meticulously, applying one thin coat exactly as instructed. The water beaded up completely. It sat on top of the dried polish film without penetrating.
Another sister I know in Toronto tried a different approach. She applied Maya to one nail, left it bare on the other hand, then performed wudu normally. She said the water behavior felt different. On her bare nail, water instantly darkened and wet the surface. On the polished nail, water seemed to roll off more, requiring conscious effort to ensure wetting.
Application thickness significantly affects results. If you apply Maya too thickly, forget about any permeability claims. But even with the thinnest possible coat, results remain inconsistent enough that you can’t rely on them with confidence.
The inconsistent results create exactly the uncertainty that scholars warn us about.
The Distraction During Prayer
Zaynab, a sister from my local masjid, described her experience with breathable polish this way: “I’d be in the middle of Fajr, and between rakats I’d glance at my nails. Did water really reach them during wudu? Should I redo it? Was my wudu even valid?”
The anxiety stole her khushu, her presence with Allah during salah. What should have been peaceful communion with her Creator became mentally exhausting. She’d finish prayer feeling spiritually drained instead of refreshed.
After three weeks of this internal battle, she removed the polish. She told me, “The instant relief I felt making wudu with bare nails, knowing without doubt that water was reaching everywhere Allah commanded, that peace is worth more than any nail color.”
When Customer Service Can’t Answer the Key Question
Multiple sisters have reported contacting Maya’s customer service directly with the question that matters most: “Can I make valid wudu with your polish on, according to Islamic law?”
The responses redirect to the certifications displayed on their website. They emphasize “breathable” and “permeable” interchangeably without distinguishing between water vapor transmission and liquid water flow. But when pressed for transparent wudu-specific testing documentation beyond ingredient certification, the answers become vague.
One sister received a response saying essentially, “Our product is certified halal by IFANCA and IDCP. Please perform your own test to ensure it meets your needs.” That last sentence reveals everything. The burden of verification falls entirely on the consumer.
The absence of clear, confident answers itself signals the uncertainty problem.
The Spiritual Cost of Getting This Wrong
Invalid Wudu Means Invalid Prayers
Let’s be absolutely clear about what’s at stake here. If a barrier prevents water from reaching your nail plates during wudu, then your wudu is invalid. And if your wudu is invalid, every single prayer you perform is not accepted by Allah.
You may fulfill all the physical motions of salah. You may bow and prostrate with perfect form. But you’re standing before Allah with incomplete purification, which He specifically commanded must be complete.
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) once saw a man praying, but his wudu was deficient. The Prophet’s instruction was direct: “Go back and perform your wudu properly, for Allah does not accept the prayer of one who does not perform wudu completely.”
This isn’t about perfection. It’s about meeting the basic requirements Allah Himself established.
What Happens If You’ve Been Using It Unknowingly
If you’ve been using breathable nail polish genuinely believing it was wudu-compliant, and you had no knowledge of the issues discussed here, take a breath. Allah is Most Merciful.
Scholarly consensus states that sincere ignorance excuses past actions done in good faith. If you truly didn’t know there was doubt about water permeability, Allah does not hold you accountable for prayers performed in that state of unawareness.
Going forward though, now that you know uncertainty exists, you must choose certainty. Ignorance is no longer your condition. Knowledge brings responsibility.
There’s no need to make up past prayers if you were truly unaware of the issue. Seek Allah’s forgiveness, make the change going forward, and trust in His infinite mercy.
The Barakah of Caution in Worship
When you choose caution regarding the validity of your worship, Allah honors that choice. There’s immense barakah (blessing) in going the extra step to protect your prayers.
The angels witness your effort to ensure valid wudu. They see you prioritizing your connection with Allah over cosmetic convenience. This itself becomes an act of worship worthy of reward.
And the peace that replaces anxiety when you know your connection with Allah is sound? That spiritual tranquility is priceless. No nail polish shade, no matter how beautiful, can compete with the sakinah of standing before Allah knowing your purification met His requirements exactly.
Your Practical Decision Framework: Navigating This with Wisdom
The Questions Your Heart Must Answer
After reading the evidence from both sides, sit quietly and ask yourself these questions honestly:
Do you feel certain, with no lingering doubt, that water reaches your nail plates when wearing Maya? Or does uncertainty remain?
Does using this polish bring you peace during salah, or does it steal your khushu with questions and anxiety?
If someone asked you, “Would you bet the acceptance of your five daily prayers on this product’s permeability claims,” what would your gut answer be?
Which choice aligns with your personal commitment to caution in matters of worship?
Your heart knows the answers. Listen to it.
A Simple Home Verification Process
If you want to test Maya before making your final decision, here’s a methodical approach:
Apply one thin coat following the brand’s exact instructions for maximum permeability. Let it dry completely for 24 hours. Then perform wudu exactly as you normally would, no special techniques or extra rubbing.
Observe carefully whether water darkens and wets your nail immediately, the way it does on bare nails. Does water bead up? Does it require vigorous rubbing to see any moisture beneath the polish film?
If you must rub harder than normal, or soak your hands, or do anything beyond regular washing to get water penetration, that reveals the reality. Normal wudu should be sufficient, just as it is for bare skin.
Consulting Your Trusted Scholar
Take this research to your imam or a trusted Islamic authority in your community for personalized guidance. Different madhabs may have slightly different practical applications of core principles.
Your personal circumstances matter too. Are there health needs affecting your nails? Are you in a situation that makes frequent polish removal difficult? A knowledgeable scholar can help you navigate your specific situation within Islamic guidelines.
Seeking knowledge from qualified scholars is part of taking your faith seriously. Don’t hesitate to ask.
Better Alternatives That Bring Certainty and Beauty
Henna: The Sunnah-Approved Beauty Tradition
Henna has beautified Muslim women for over a thousand years. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) encouraged its use for women’s adornment. He said, “The best things with which grey hair is changed are henna and katam.” (Sunan Abi Dawud)
Henna stains the skin and nails without creating any physical barrier to water. It’s completely wudu-compliant, accepted unanimously by all scholars across all madhabs throughout Islamic history.
Modern organic nail stains and henna-based formulas revive this beautiful Islamic tradition with contemporary colors and application methods. You get rich, natural tones that last for days while maintaining absolute certainty in your ablution.
The Menstruation Strategy for Polish Lovers
Here’s a practical approach if you genuinely love nail polish and don’t want to give it up entirely: wear it during your menstrual cycle when you’re not performing salah.
You get a full week monthly to enjoy whatever nail color you want, Maya included, without any spiritual anxiety. Then remove it completely before performing ghusl for your return to prayer.
This gives you guilt-free beauty time. And honestly, Maya’s 9-Free formula makes it a healthier choice than conventional polishes during these times when you can wear it freely.
Nail Care as Natural Beauty
There’s profound beauty in natural, healthy nails. Buffing creates a natural shine that catches light beautifully. Cuticle oils promote health and give nails a polished appearance without any product.
Keeping nails neat, clean, and well-maintained is itself a form of beauty that aligns with Islamic values. The Prophet’s teaching applies here: “Allah is beautiful and loves beauty.” This encompasses cleanliness and care for how we present ourselves.
Natural nail care connects to Islamic principles of taharah (purity) and simplicity. Your hands making dua, holding the Qur’an, prostrating in prayer are beautiful exactly as Allah created them.
The Peel-Off Base Coat Solution
Here’s a clever beauty hack that lets you enjoy polish with certainty about your wudu: peel-off base coat.
Apply a peel-off base coat underneath Maya or any regular polish. When it’s time for prayer, the entire polish film pops off instantly without acetone, without scrubbing, without any fuss. You get bare nails for wudu-perfect ablution.
This solution works beautifully for special occasions. Wedding next weekend? Wear stunning color from Thursday evening through Saturday, then peel it all off Sunday morning. You get the cosmetic benefit when you want it without compromising your prayers.
If You Choose to Try Maya: A Wudu-Safe Approach
Application Method for Maximum Claimed Permeability
If you decide to test Maya despite the concerns raised, at minimum follow their instructions precisely. Apply only one thin coat as the brand specifically directs. Any thicker application or additional layers completely negates whatever permeability might exist.
Let it dry completely before testing. Avoid any heavy topcoat that would seal the polish and create an additional barrier. If you add a topcoat or apply a second color layer, you’ll need to retest permeability before relying on it for wudu.
Modified Wudu Technique When Wearing It
If you wear Maya, perform wudu with extra care. Wash your hands carefully, running water directly over your nails for the full ten seconds as the brand instructs. Rub gently as directed.
Pay attention to how the water behaves. Does it wet your nails immediately? Does it bead up and roll off? Your observations during actual wudu are more valuable than any filter test.
If certainty is missing after your honest effort to wash properly, that’s information your heart needs to hear. Remove the polish before your next prayer.
The Friday Trial Period Suggestion
Try this if you want to test Maya without risking an entire week of prayers: apply it after Jummah prayer on Friday. Enjoy the color through the weekend. Use it for just a few prayer times to genuinely assess your spiritual comfort level.
Remove the polish Sunday evening, ensuring Monday’s Fajr is performed with absolute wudu certainty. Your heart’s peace during this trial period will tell you everything you need to know.
If anxiety creeps in between rakats, if doubt whispers during sujood, if you find yourself checking your nails instead of focusing on your salah, you have your answer.
Conclusion: Your Beauty Doesn’t Require Compromising Your Prayers
Sister, I know you wanted Maya to be the answer. You wanted to believe that finally, there’s nail polish letting you feel beautiful while praying with confidence. That desire itself is beautiful and completely understandable. Allah created our love of adornment; the Qur’an mentions beautification as part of His blessings to us.
But here’s what the evidence shows: Maya’s certifications verify their ingredients are halal, not that water functionally permeates through for valid wudu. The certifying bodies themselves, when pressed, confirm they don’t test for prayer validity specifically. The lab testing measures vapor transmission, not the liquid water flow Islamic law requires for washing. The scientific experts in cosmetic chemistry question whether current polymer formulations can truly allow water to wet the nail plate beneath while maintaining color and durability.
And the scholars, those who’ve dedicated their lives to preserving our deen, consistently emphasize: when you cannot verify with certainty that water reaches your nails, the default position is caution. This is especially true when the validity of your five daily prayers hangs in the balance.
This doesn’t make Maya a harmful product. Their 9-Free formula, vegan ethics, and beautiful colors are genuine. But “breathable” and “wudu-friendly” are not the same thing, and the evidence suggests Maya achieves the former without conclusively proving the latter.
Remove any breathable polish you’re currently wearing. Make fresh wudu with absolute certainty that water is reaching and wetting your nails. Perform your next salah and notice the difference in your heart. That sakinah, that peace of standing before Allah knowing your purification is sound, is worth infinitely more than any nail color. Choose certainty in your worship, sister. Choose peace in your heart. May Allah grant you clarity in all your choices, adornment that pleases Him, and prayers that are accepted with His mercy. Ameen.
Is Maya Nail Polish Halal (FAQs)
Is Maya nail polish actually water permeable for wudu?
No, not conclusively. Maya’s certifications verify halal ingredients only, not functional water permeability. SGS Labs testing measured water vapor transmission, which differs from liquid water reaching nail plates during ablution. The certifying bodies themselves refuse to confirm wudu validity when questioned directly. While Maya markets their polish as water permeable, this claim lacks verification from Islamic authorities for ritual washing purposes.
What’s the difference between IDCP and IFANCA certification for nail polish?
Both certifications verify ingredients and manufacturing processes are free from najis substances like pork and prohibited alcohol. Neither certification tests or confirms that water can permeate through the polish for valid wudu. IDCP (Islamic Dawa Council of the Philippines) and IFANCA explicitly state their halal cosmetics certification scope covers ingredient compliance only, not functional requirements for Islamic ablution rituals.
Can you really make wudu with Maya nail polish on?
The majority of Islamic scholars advise caution. While some contemporary scholars say it’s permissible if water truly reaches nails, they place the verification burden on you. Home tests show inconsistent results. Water often beads up rather than penetrating to wet the nail surface beneath. Given the uncertainty and what’s at stake (your five daily prayers), most scholars recommend removing all nail polish before wudu to ensure certainty.
Are all “breathable” nail polishes halal for prayer?
No. “Breathable” refers to oxygen and water vapor transmission through polish, not liquid water flow required for wudu. A polish can be breathable while still forming a barrier to liquid water. Halal ingredients don’t automatically mean wudu-friendly functionality. You need specific water permeability certification from recognized Islamic authorities, not just breathability marketing claims or ingredient certification.
Which scholars have certified Maya nail polish for wudu?
No major Islamic scholarly institution or fatwa council has issued blanket certification for Maya specifically for wudu purposes. Some individual scholars have given conditional approvals (if water truly reaches nails), but place verification responsibility on the user. Malaysia’s JAKIM refuses to certify any nail polish. Egypt’s Dar Al-Ifta emphasizes the “if” condition heavily. Most traditional scholars across all madhabs advise removing any polish before ablution to ensure certainty.