As for requiring that one be in a complete state of purification before applying a bandage, this is a weak view, for the following reasons:
First: there is no evidence for it, and it cannot validly be analogized to the leather socks, since there are differences between them.
Second: a bandage may be needed suddenly, unlike a leather sock, which one can put on whenever one wishes.
The view that this is not required was preferred by Shaykh al-Islam (1). It is also a strong narration from Ahmad, adopted by many scholars of the school (2).
This is one of the differences between a bandage and a leather sock.
Other differences between a bandage and the other items over which wiping is permitted include:
- A bandage is not restricted to a particular limb, whereas the leather sock is specific to the foot, and both the turban and the khimar are specific to the head.
From this we recognize the error of those who have issued the ruling that it is permissible for a woman to apply “nail polish” for one day and one night. Wiping has only been legislated for what is worn on the head and the foot. Thus, when the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, was in Tabuk wearing a Syrian cloak and wished to pull his forearms out of its sleeves in order to perform ablution, he was unable to do so because its sleeves were too tight. So he brought his hand out from beneath the cloak and draped the cloak over his shoulders, until al-Mughirah (may Allah be pleased with him) poured water over him (3). Had wiping been permissible over anything other than the foot and the head, the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, would have wiped over his sleeves in such a situation.
- Wiping over a bandage is permissible in both states of ritual impurity, whereas the remaining