Fiqh Rulings and Issues in the Light of the Qur’an and Sunnah
Volume 01: Page 51
What is the ruling regarding wiping (masḥ) over leather socks (khuffayn), socks, and similar items?
وعليكم السلام ورحمة الله وبركاته!
All praise is for Allah, and peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah. To proceed:
Our religion is a religion of ease; it is not a religion of hardship or difficulty. The rulings of Islamic Sharīʿah are aligned with human circumstances, closer to benefit and farther from hardship. Among these facilitations are certain rulings related to ablution (wuḍūʾ).
✔ Socks or stockings for protecting the feet
✔ A turban for protecting the head
✔ A bandage to prevent a wound from worsening
—then the Lawgiver ﷺ has not obligated removing such items and washing the limb. Rather, permission has been granted to wipe over them. This is a manifestation of Allah’s leniency, ease, and removal of hardship for His servants.
◈ Ḥasan al-Baṣrī رحمه الله said:
“I was informed by nearly seventy (70) Companions that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to wipe over leather socks.”
◈ Imām al-Nawawī رحمه الله wrote:
“The aḥādīth regarding wiping over leather socks are narrated from many Companions.”
◈ Imām Aḥmad bin Ḥanbal رحمه الله said:
“I have no doubt whatsoever about wiping over leather socks. To my knowledge, forty aḥādīth are narrated from the Companions of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ regarding this matter.”
◈ Imām ʿAbdullāh bin al-Mubārak رحمه الله said:
“There was no disagreement among the Companions regarding the permissibility of wiping over leather socks.”
◈ Imām Ibn al-Mundhir رحمه الله and other Imams transmitted consensus (ijmāʿ) of the scholars of the Ummah on the permissibility of wiping over leather socks.
◈ On this issue, there is complete agreement among Ahl al-Sunnah wa al-Jamāʿah, except for a small group of innovators who deny its permissibility.
✔ It entails accepting Allah’s granted concession
✔ It follows the Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ
✔ It opposes the innovator groups who deny wiping, which is desirable
◈ Wiping over socks, stockings, turbans, or bandages is legally equivalent to washing the limb.
◈ The Messenger of Allah ﷺ did not burden himself with unnecessary formality; rather, he acted according to circumstances:
❀ If he was wearing socks or stockings, he wiped over them
❀ If not, he washed his feet
◈ Wearing socks or stockings specifically for the purpose of wiping is permissible.
(There is no evidence prohibiting it; therefore, there is no harm in doing so.)
✔ A resident
✔ Or a traveler whose journey does not permit shortening the prayer
—then the duration of wiping is one day and one night.
◈ If he is a traveler whose journey permits shortening the prayer, then the duration of wiping is three days and three nights.
This is based on the statement of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ:
«جَعَلَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ ثَلَاثَةَ أَيَّامٍ وَلَيَالِيَهُنَّ لِلْمُسَافِرِ، وَيَوْمًا وَلَيْلَةً لِلْمُقِيمِ»
“The Messenger of Allah ﷺ set three days and nights for the traveler, and one day and one night for the resident.”
Because:
❀ Ḥadath is what makes wuḍūʾ obligatory
❀ The permissibility of wiping also begins with the occurrence of ḥadath
Thus, the duration of wiping is counted from the time the concession becomes applicable.
◈ Some scholars are of the view that the period begins from the first wiping performed after ḥadath.
This is what I hold, and Allah knows best what is correct.
Volume 01: Page 51
Question
السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاتهWhat is the ruling regarding wiping (masḥ) over leather socks (khuffayn), socks, and similar items?
Answer
With the help of al-Wahhāb, subject to the validity of the questionوعليكم السلام ورحمة الله وبركاته!
All praise is for Allah, and peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah. To proceed:
Our religion is a religion of ease; it is not a religion of hardship or difficulty. The rulings of Islamic Sharīʿah are aligned with human circumstances, closer to benefit and farther from hardship. Among these facilitations are certain rulings related to ablution (wuḍūʾ).
Permissibility of Wiping in Cases of Need
If a Muslim has worn or applied something on the limbs of wuḍūʾ out of genuine need, and removing it causes difficulty—such as:✔ Socks or stockings for protecting the feet
✔ A turban for protecting the head
✔ A bandage to prevent a wound from worsening
—then the Lawgiver ﷺ has not obligated removing such items and washing the limb. Rather, permission has been granted to wipe over them. This is a manifestation of Allah’s leniency, ease, and removal of hardship for His servants.
Evidence for Wiping Over Leather Socks and Socks
If a Muslim—whether resident or traveler—is wearing leather socks or socks, then wiping over them instead of washing the feet is completely valid. This is established through marfūʿ aḥādīth, which, due to their numerous chains, reach the level of tawātur.◈ Ḥasan al-Baṣrī رحمه الله said:
“I was informed by nearly seventy (70) Companions that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to wipe over leather socks.”
Reference: al-Awsaṭ by Ibn al-Mundhir 1/430
◈ Imām al-Nawawī رحمه الله wrote:
“The aḥādīth regarding wiping over leather socks are narrated from many Companions.”
Reference: Sharḥ Muslim 3/210
◈ Imām Aḥmad bin Ḥanbal رحمه الله said:
“I have no doubt whatsoever about wiping over leather socks. To my knowledge, forty aḥādīth are narrated from the Companions of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ regarding this matter.”
Reference: al-Mughnī wa al-Sharḥ al-Kabīr 1/316
◈ Imām ʿAbdullāh bin al-Mubārak رحمه الله said:
“There was no disagreement among the Companions regarding the permissibility of wiping over leather socks.”
Reference: al-Awsaṭ by Ibn al-Mundhir 1/434; Fatḥ al-Bārī 1/305
◈ Imām Ibn al-Mundhir رحمه الله and other Imams transmitted consensus (ijmāʿ) of the scholars of the Ummah on the permissibility of wiping over leather socks.
Reference: al-Awsaṭ by Ibn al-Mundhir 1/434
◈ On this issue, there is complete agreement among Ahl al-Sunnah wa al-Jamāʿah, except for a small group of innovators who deny its permissibility.
Legal Status of Wiping Over Leather Socks
Wiping over leather socks is a concession (rukhsah), and it is preferable to wipe over them instead of removing them and washing the feet, because:✔ It entails accepting Allah’s granted concession
✔ It follows the Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ
✔ It opposes the innovator groups who deny wiping, which is desirable
◈ Wiping over socks, stockings, turbans, or bandages is legally equivalent to washing the limb.
◈ The Messenger of Allah ﷺ did not burden himself with unnecessary formality; rather, he acted according to circumstances:
❀ If he was wearing socks or stockings, he wiped over them
❀ If not, he washed his feet
◈ Wearing socks or stockings specifically for the purpose of wiping is permissible.
(There is no evidence prohibiting it; therefore, there is no harm in doing so.)
Duration of Wiping
◈ If a person is:✔ A resident
✔ Or a traveler whose journey does not permit shortening the prayer
—then the duration of wiping is one day and one night.
◈ If he is a traveler whose journey permits shortening the prayer, then the duration of wiping is three days and three nights.
This is based on the statement of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ:
«جَعَلَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ ثَلَاثَةَ أَيَّامٍ وَلَيَالِيَهُنَّ لِلْمُسَافِرِ، وَيَوْمًا وَلَيْلَةً لِلْمُقِيمِ»
“The Messenger of Allah ﷺ set three days and nights for the traveler, and one day and one night for the resident.”
Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 276; Musnad Aḥmad 1/96
Commencement of the Wiping Period
◈ Whether resident or traveler, in both cases, the period of wiping begins from the time the state of impurity (ḥadath) occurs after wearing the socks.Because:
❀ Ḥadath is what makes wuḍūʾ obligatory
❀ The permissibility of wiping also begins with the occurrence of ḥadath
Thus, the duration of wiping is counted from the time the concession becomes applicable.
◈ Some scholars are of the view that the period begins from the first wiping performed after ḥadath.
This is what I hold, and Allah knows best what is correct.
