Ruling on Changing Socks After Wiping Over Them in Wudu
❖ Question:
Shaykh, if a person performs wudū’, wears socks, and then wipes over them in a later wudū’, can he change his socks while still in the state of wudū’?
❖ Answer by:
Shaykh ʿAbd al-Wakīl Nāṣir ḥafiẓahullāh
Researcher Dāwūd Ismāʿīl ḥafiẓahullāh
✿ Changing Socks After Wiping Invalidates the Masḥ ✿
If someone has performed wudū’, washed his feet, and worn socks, and then later on wiped over those socks in a subsequent wudū’,
changing those socks while in a state of wudū’ will nullify the validity of masḥ, and a new wudū’ will be required.
❖ Condition for Valid Masḥ
◈ One of the key conditions for wiping over socks (masḥ) is that the socks must have been worn after washing the feet in a valid wudū’.
◈ If someone changes into new socks after wiping over the previous pair, then the new socks are not eligible for masḥ, since they were not worn directly after washing the feet.
❖ Reference from Scholars
◈ Shaykh Ibn Bāz رحمه الله has indicated that there is consensus (ijmāʿ) on this matter:
– Socks worn without washing the feet first are not valid for masḥ.
– This includes socks worn after removing the original wiped pair.
✿ Conclusion ✿
If a person has wiped over his socks and then decides to change them,
– He must perform a fresh wudū’,
– Wash the feet,
– And then wear the new socks if he wishes to wipe over them later.
