Question: Assalamualaikum sheikh, I hope you and your family are doing well. My wife is pregnant. She is having a hard time bending or lifting her feet to be able to perform wudu. At home she is able to use the bathtub or shower but when traveling how could she perform wudu? What are her options? If I am traveling with her for example on an airplane, if she went to bathroom and did all except washing her feet and came back to her seat to then use a small amount of water to run water over her feet? Or perhaps me rubbing the water over her feet when she gets back to her seat?

Answer: Walaikumsalam, 

May Allah (swt) bless you both with a wonderful pious child(ren), ameen.

1. While performing whudu with ease can be challenging, when there is no injury preventing water from reaching the feet, washing the feet is given priority. Consider using a water bottle to pour water over the feet without causing impure water to splash back. This should be the primary option. Many have used this option.
2. Washing the feet separately after completing whudu, particularly if everything else has already been washed and wiped would invalidate the ablution due to the sequential lapse. It is important to wash the feet as part of the initial whudu process. If she does not wipe her face, hands etc and then poured water over her feet, this would function as a complete whudu. Should this be a challenge, your wife can do as she pleases, however, upon arrival of her destination, merely repeat that given salah with its proper whudu.
3. A better solution if number 1 is a challenge: Consider using the non-water permeable ski socks after the morning ablution. This would allow her to merely wipe over it, instead of washing the feet. Although traditional leather socks are preferable, scholars allow flexibility with the use of non-water permeable ski socks, especially under certain circumstances.
4. As a last resort, if a sincere Muslim doctor indicates potential harm from bending down during whudu, your wife may resort to the wiping method while at work. I would still recommend a person to repeat this prayer, especially if the wiping was done over the regular everyday socks that people wear. Alternatively, at home when you are present, assisting her in washing her feet will be a commendable option.
5. It has become fashionable for some scholars to grant leeway in merely wiping over regular everyday socks. I would recommend them to view the book from which fatwa are derived with the proofs originating from Quran and Hadith for the author — Radul Mukhtar.
6. Your sincere and genuine question reflects your commitment to this great pillar of Islam. May it serve as a guiding light for your beautiful child(ren). The positive actions a mother and father takes during pregnancy and early child-rearing profoundly impact the child’s future.

Allah Certainly Knows Best.