Source: Fatawa Arkan al-Islam
Allah ﷻ says:
﴿يـأَيُّهَا الَّذينَ ءامَنوا إِذا قُمتُم إِلَى الصَّلوةِ فَاغسِلوا وُجوهَكُم وَأَيدِيَكُم إِلَى المَرافِقِ وَامسَحوا بِرُءوسِكُم وَأَرجُلَكُم إِلَى الكَعبَينِ﴾ (Surah al-Ma’idah: 6)
If “أَرْجُلَكُمْ” is read with kasrah, it connects with “بِرُءُوسِكُمْ” meaning wipe over the feet; if with fatḥah, it connects with “وُجُوهَكُمْ” meaning wash the feet.
From Sunnah:
Wiping over khuffs is proven mutawatir (mass-transmitted). Among them:
The Prophet ﷺ said to al-Mughirah ibn Shu‘bah رضي الله عنه:
«دَعْهُمَا فَإِنِّي أَدْخَلْتُهُمَا طَاهِرَتَيْنِ»
(Bukhari 206; Muslim 274)
“Leave them (the socks), for I wore them in a state of purity.”
① Socks must be worn in a state of complete taharah (free from both minor and major impurity).
② Wiping must be within the allowed time limit.
③ Wiping cannot be done in the state of janabah (major impurity).
Hadith of Safwan ibn ‘Assal رضي الله عنه:
The Prophet ﷺ commanded that when on a journey, do not remove khuffs for three days and nights, except in the case of janabah.
(Nasai 126–127; Tirmidhi 96)
This duration is based on time, not the number of prayers.
Example:
If you wipe again at 4:45 PM the next day, you can still pray Maghrib and ‘Isha with that wudu.
If one wore socks as a resident and then travelled:
Hadith:
«أَمَرَنَا رَسُولُ اللّٰهِ أَنْ لَا نَنْزِعَ خِفَافَنَا»
(Nasai 126–127; Tirmidhi 96)
“The Messenger of Allah commanded us not to remove our khuffs.”
If socks are removed, the next wudu must include washing the feet.
① Duration starts from the first wiping, not wearing or breaking wudu.
② Removing socks ends the validity of wiping but not the wudu itself.
③ Resident: 24 hours; Traveller: 72 hours.
ھٰذَا مَا عِنْدِي وَاللّٰهُ أَعْلَمُ بِالصَّوَاب
Evidence from Qur’an and Sunnah
From the Qur’an:
Allah ﷻ says:
﴿يـأَيُّهَا الَّذينَ ءامَنوا إِذا قُمتُم إِلَى الصَّلوةِ فَاغسِلوا وُجوهَكُم وَأَيدِيَكُم إِلَى المَرافِقِ وَامسَحوا بِرُءوسِكُم وَأَرجُلَكُم إِلَى الكَعبَينِ﴾ (Surah al-Ma’idah: 6)
If “أَرْجُلَكُمْ” is read with kasrah, it connects with “بِرُءُوسِكُمْ” meaning wipe over the feet; if with fatḥah, it connects with “وُجُوهَكُمْ” meaning wash the feet.
From Sunnah:
- Bare feet must be washed.
- Feet covered with khuffs or socks can be wiped over.
From Hadith:
Wiping over khuffs is proven mutawatir (mass-transmitted). Among them:
The Prophet ﷺ said to al-Mughirah ibn Shu‘bah رضي الله عنه:
«دَعْهُمَا فَإِنِّي أَدْخَلْتُهُمَا طَاهِرَتَيْنِ»
(Bukhari 206; Muslim 274)
“Leave them (the socks), for I wore them in a state of purity.”
Conditions for Wiping
① Socks must be worn in a state of complete taharah (free from both minor and major impurity).
② Wiping must be within the allowed time limit.
③ Wiping cannot be done in the state of janabah (major impurity).
Hadith of Safwan ibn ‘Assal رضي الله عنه:
The Prophet ﷺ commanded that when on a journey, do not remove khuffs for three days and nights, except in the case of janabah.
(Nasai 126–127; Tirmidhi 96)
Duration for Wiping
- Resident: 1 day & 1 night (24 hours)
- Traveller: 3 days & 3 nights (72 hours)
This duration is based on time, not the number of prayers.
When Does the Time Begin?
- The time starts from the first act of wiping,
not from wearing the socks,
not from breaking wudu.
Example:
- Fajr: Performed wudu and wore socks.
- Wudu lasted until ʿAsr.
- 5 PM: Made wudu for Maghrib and wiped over socks.
- Time now runs until 5 PM the next day.
If you wipe again at 4:45 PM the next day, you can still pray Maghrib and ‘Isha with that wudu.
Special Note for Travellers
If one wore socks as a resident and then travelled:
- He may wipe according to the traveller’s duration (3 days, 3 nights).
Effect of Removing Socks
- Removing socks invalidates the wiping, but does not nullify the wudu.
- The previous taharah remains valid until it is broken by a shar‘i nullifier.
Hadith:
«أَمَرَنَا رَسُولُ اللّٰهِ أَنْ لَا نَنْزِعَ خِفَافَنَا»
(Nasai 126–127; Tirmidhi 96)
“The Messenger of Allah commanded us not to remove our khuffs.”
If socks are removed, the next wudu must include washing the feet.
Summary
① Duration starts from the first wiping, not wearing or breaking wudu.
② Removing socks ends the validity of wiping but not the wudu itself.
③ Resident: 24 hours; Traveller: 72 hours.
ھٰذَا مَا عِنْدِي وَاللّٰهُ أَعْلَمُ بِالصَّوَاب
