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Fatwa CenterDifficulty of using fractured thumb in ablution and prayer
Question
Assalaamu alaykum wa rahmatullaahi wa barakaatuh, Shaykhs. I suffered a 'hair line fracture', as mentioned by a specialist, in my right thumb. I am taking pain killers, but I should not touch that area and completely avoid any stress to it. Following are my questions about it.
In ablution, I am facing difficulty when wiping my head, as the thumb is used as part of both hands when wiping, especially when I have to go behind the ear to wipe head; it is painfuf, and if I do it lightly, then the ear does not move and I cannot wipe that area, and a hair or some hairs also remain on the side and get missed near the back of the ear. Then I repeat the action and again suffer due to it. So I avoid lightly touching it, as it is almost useless, and end up touching it in a stronger way, which is painful. Please note that I am a woman and that my hair is long; hence, it is not as easy to wipe as for men, even though I only wipe it from the front to the back. Please advise.
In prayer, I am in pain when I place the right hand over the left, so I just hurry up and end my recitation; at times, I do not even recite any surah after Surat Al-Faatihah, even though I really want to; please advise.
Also, it is painful to raise my right hand to the shoulder level; please advise.
During the Tashahhud, I usually raise my finger almost througout that sitting and move it when supplicating, as per the Sunnah, praise be to Allah; however, now I keep my hand flat and raise the finger only when saying the words of the Tashahhud, that brief part; is that ok?
My internet was not working, and I do not know the answers to my questions, so I have been hurting my thumb while wiping; it is really hurtful, and I most probably could have caused further damage, and I have been keeping my right hand on my left hand, lightly, while suffering; and raising my hands to wherever I could, but again, while hurting myself; and sometimes I have not been raising my left hand up to shoulder level also due to maybe being confused; is that ok?
Please advise, as it really hurts, and I do not want to cause any damage. Please note that it is a fracture. Please, if possible, answer me by email today. May Allah reward you, Shaykhs.
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allah, the Lord of the worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad 
is His slave and Messenger.
First of all, we advise you to fear Allah, and then to reduce the amount of your questions, which clearly indicate that you are affected with Waswaas (devilish whisperings/obsessive doubts), as you have asked us more than 260 questions!
So we ask you, dear Sister, to stop this, as we have many questions to answer rather than answering such questions which are nothing but Waswaas.
Wiping over the head with the hands is easy and simple, even without using the thumb.
Also, putting the right hand over the left hand is recommended in prayer and not obligatory. So if you feel pain by putting your right hand over the left hand, then you may let your arms hang by your sides, and your prayer is valid.
The same applies to raising your hands when you say the Takbeer Al-Ihraam (saying 'Allahu Akbar' to start the prayer); this is a recommended Sunnah, and if you do not raise your hands, then this does not invalidate the prayer. The obligation is to say the Takbeer Al-Ihraam, so if you are unable to raise your hands to the level of your shoulders, then there is no harm in raising them lower than that, as Allah does not burden a soul beyond what it can bear.
Allah knows best.
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