Fath al-Rabbani

Benefits: … In the above-mentioned hadith, two methods of wiping (masah) over the head are described: one is over the entire turban, and the other is over the front part of the head and the turban. Wiping over the head without a turban is clear. The opinion of some scholars, including Imam Abu Hanifah rahimahullah, is that it is not permissible to wipe only over the turban. However, from the above hadith and other related narrations on this subject, it is established as clear as daylight that wiping only over the turban is proven. The rulings related to wiping over leather socks (khuffayn) are as follows: The socks should be worn after performing ablution (wudu). From general narrations, it is understood that a resident is allowed to wipe for a complete day, i.e., twenty-four hours, and a traveler for three days. When ablution is nullified due to urination, defecation, sleep, or other nullifiers of ablution, the duration for wiping is not affected, nor is it necessary to remove the socks. However, when ritual bath (ghusl) due to major impurity (janabah) becomes obligatory, it is necessary to remove the socks and perform ablution and ritual bath. While wiping, the hand should be passed only over the upper part of the feet. The same ruling applies to socks (jurabayn). The specific and further rulings regarding leather socks will begin from hadith number (725). Now we mention the evidences for wiping over socks:

(1) … Sayyiduna Thawban radi Allahu anhu says: The Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam sent a group outside; they experienced cold during the journey. When they returned and complained to the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam about the cold, فَأَمَرَھُمْ أَنْ یَمْسَحُوْا عَلٰی الْعَصَائِبِ واَلتَّسَاخِیْنِ, he sallallahu alayhi wa sallam ordered them to wipe over their turbans and tasaqhin. (Ahmad: 5/277, Abu Dawud: 146) The meaning of tasaqhin is: things that provide warmth, whether they are leather socks or cotton or woolen socks. Imam Ibn Arslan rahimahullah said: The origin of this is everything by which the foot is kept warm, whether it is a leather sock (khuff), a sock (jurab), or anything similar. … Tasaqhin refers to every such thing.

(2) … Sayyiduna Bilal radi Allahu anhu says: كَانَ رَسُولُ اللّٰہِ صلی اللہ علیہ وآلہ وسلم یَمْسَحُ عَلٰی الْخُفَّیْنِ وَالْجَوْرَبَیْنِ. … The Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam used to wipe over the leather socks (khuffayn) and the socks (jurabayn). (Mu’jam Kabir al-Tabarani: 1/350) Its chain is weak due to Yazid ibn Abi Ziyad, but it has multiple supporting narrations.

(3) … Sayyiduna Abu Musa al-Ash’ari radi Allahu anhu narrates: اِنَّ رَسُوْلَ اللّٰہِ صلی اللہ علیہ وآلہ وسلم تَوَضَّأَ وَمَسَحَ عَلٰی الْجَوْرَبَیْنِ وَالنَّعْلَیْنِ … The Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam performed ablution and wiped over the socks (jurabayn) and the sandals. (Ibn Majah: 560, Bayhaqi: 1/285) There is a break in the chain of this hadith and Isa ibn Sinan is weak, but it has supporting narrations.

(4) … Sayyiduna Abu Musa al-Ash’ari radi Allahu anhu also narrates: اَتَیْتَ رَسُوْلَ اللّٰہِ صلی اللہ علیہ وآلہ وسلم بَوَضُوئٍ فَمَسَحَ عَلٰی الْجَوْرَبَیْنِ وَالنَّعْلَیْنِ وَالْعِمَامَۃِ. … I brought water for ablution to the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, and he wiped over the socks (jurabayn), the sandals, and the turban. (Mu’jam Awsat al-Tabarani: 2/66)

(5) … Sayyiduna Mughirah ibn Shu’bah radi Allahu anhu says: تَوَضَّأَ النَّبِیُّ صلی اللہ علیہ وآلہ وسلم وَمَسَحَ عَلٰی الْجَوْرَبَیْنِ وَالنَّعْلَیْنِ. The Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam performed ablution and wiped over the socks (jurabayn) and the sandals. (Tirmidhi: 99, Abu Dawud: 159) In its chain, Sufyan al-Thawri is a mudallis, but due to other supporting narrations, this hadith is authentic. However, according to Ibn Turkmani al-Hanafi (d. 845 AH), this hadith is authentic. See: al-Jawhar al-Naqi: 1/284. Ka’b ibn Abdullah says: I saw Sayyiduna Ali radi Allahu anhu urinate, then he wiped over his socks (jurabayn) and sandals. (al-Awsat Ibn al-Mundhir: 1/462, al-Muhalla Ibn Hazm: 2/84) Sayyiduna Umar ibn al-Khattab radi Allahu anhu wiped over the socks along with the straps of the sandals. (Tahdhib al-Sunan Ibn al-Qayyim: 1/275) Imam Abu Dawud rahimahullah said: Sayyiduna Ali ibn Abi Talib, Sayyiduna Abdullah ibn Mas’ud, Sayyiduna Bara’ ibn Azib, Sayyiduna Anas ibn Malik, Sayyiduna Abu Umamah, Sayyiduna Sahl ibn Sa’d, and Sayyiduna Amr ibn Hurayth used to wipe over socks (jurabayn), and this practice is also narrated from Sayyiduna Umar ibn al-Khattab and Sayyiduna Abdullah ibn Abbas radi Allahu anhum. (Abu Dawud) There is consensus and agreement among the Companions regarding wiping over socks; see: (al-Mughni Ibn Qudamah: 1/181, al-Awsat Ibn al-Mundhir: 1/464, al-Muhalla Ibn Hazm: 2/87) Imam Tirmidhi rahimahullah says: I heard Salih ibn Muhammad al-Tirmidhi rahimahullah say, he said: I heard Abu Muqatil al-Samarqandi say, he said: I was present with Imam Abu Hanifah rahimahullah when he was suffering from his final illness. He asked for water, performed ablution, and wiped over his socks (jurabayn), and said: Today I have done something which I did not do before; I have wiped over non-leather socks (ghayr mu’alla jurabayn). (Jami’ Tirmidhi: 99) For details, see: Jami’ Tirmidhi by Allamah Ahmad Muhammad Shakir: 1/167. By non-leather socks is meant those socks over which shoes are not worn. In Hanafi jurisprudence, great emphasis is placed on analogy (qiyas). In this issue, analogy required that the permissibility of wiping over socks be accepted, because the effective cause (‘illah) for leather socks (khuffayn) and socks (jurabayn) is the same.