Question:
If someone had arthritis, for instance, and they cannot perform wudû' properly because they cannot allow water to touch a certain spot, how would they do their wudû' in an acceptable manner?

Answer:
If a person for some legitimate reason cannot wash a part of his body, he may wipe over it with water.

In the event that even wiping it with water might also harm him, he may perform tayammum in lieu of the body parts he is unable to wash.

He should first perform ablutions (wudû’) as best he can. Then he should perform tayammum with the intention that it is for the parts of his body that were not washed or wiped by water.
And Allah knows best.

Responded by: Sheikh `Umar al-Muqbil, professor at al-Imâm University