⭑ Wiping Over Socks in Wudu According to Authentic Ahadith ⭑
This excerpt is taken from Shaykh Zubair Ali Zai رحمه الله’s book Hadiyyat al-Muslimeen: Important Issues of Salah with Complete Prophetic Prayer (ﷺ).
«عن ثوبان رضى الله عنه قال: بعث رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم سرية …… أمرهم أن يمسحوا على العصائب والتساخين»
It is narrated from Thawban رضي الله عنه:
“The Messenger of Allah ﷺ dispatched a group of fighters … and he commanded them to wipe over the turbans and the tasākhīn (things worn to keep the feet warm — including socks and leather footwear).”
[Sunan Abi Dawud, Vol. 1, p. 21, Hadith 146]
The chain of this narration is authentic. Both Imam al-Hakim and Imam al-Dhahabi have graded it Sahih. [al-Mustadrak with Talkhīs, Vol. 1, p. 169, Hadith 602]
Imam Abu Dawud رحمه الله said:
“The following Companions wiped over socks: ‘Ali bin Abi Talib, Abu Mas‘ud (Ibn Mas‘ud), al-Bara’ bin ‘Azib, Anas bin Malik, Abu Umamah, and Sahl bin Sa‘d رضي الله عنهم.”
[Sunan Abi Dawud 1/24 before Hadith 160]
He also said:
“‘Ali bin Abi Talib, Abu Mas‘ud, al-Bara’ bin ‘Azib, Anas bin Malik, Abu Umamah, Sahl bin Sa‘d, and ‘Amr bin Harith wiped over socks; and it is also narrated from ‘Umar bin al-Khattab and Ibn ‘Abbas رضي الله عنهم.”
[Sunan Abi Dawud 1/24, Hadith 159]
These reports from the Companions are recorded with chains in Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah (1/188–189), Musannaf ‘Abd al-Razzaq (1/199–200), al-Muḥallā by Ibn Hazm (2/84), al-Kunā by al-Dulabi (1/181), etc.
“Since the Companions wiped over socks, and no opponent was known in their time, this amounts to consensus (ijmā‘).”
[al-Mughnī 1/181, Issue 426]
Those who deny wiping over socks have no explicit proof from the Qur’an, Sunnah, or ijmā‘.
① ‘Ali رضي الله عنه relieved himself, performed wudu, and wiped over his socks. [al-Awsat by Ibn al-Mundhir 1/462 — chain authentic]
② Abu Umamah رضي الله عنه wiped over socks. [Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah 1/188, Hadith 1979 — chain Hasan]
③ al-Bara’ bin ‘Azib رضي الله عنه wiped over socks. [Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah 1/189, Hadith 1984 — chain Sahih]
④ ‘Uqbah bin ‘Amir رضي الله عنه wiped over socks. [Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah 1/189, Hadith 1987 — chain Sahih]
⑤ Sahl bin Sa‘d رضي الله عنه wiped over socks. [Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah 1/189, Hadith 1990 — chain Hasan]
Ibn al-Mundhir narrated that Imam Ishaq bin Rahwayh said: “There is no disagreement among the Companions on this matter.” Ibn Hazm رحمه الله expressed similar words. Ibn Qudāmah رحمه الله confirmed the ijmā‘.
Among the jurists:
Imam al-Tirmidhi رحمه الله wrote:
“Sufyan al-Thawri, Ibn al-Mubarak, al-Shafi‘i, Ahmad, and Ishaq (bin Rahwayh) all permitted wiping over socks — on condition that they are thick.” [Sunan al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 99]
According to authentic Ahadith, ijmā‘ of the Companions, agreement of many Tābi‘īn, and positions of the great Imams, wiping over socks is valid and legislated in Islam. The opposing view has no sound evidence.
This excerpt is taken from Shaykh Zubair Ali Zai رحمه الله’s book Hadiyyat al-Muslimeen: Important Issues of Salah with Complete Prophetic Prayer (ﷺ).
⮚ Wiping Over Socks in Wudu
«عن ثوبان رضى الله عنه قال: بعث رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم سرية …… أمرهم أن يمسحوا على العصائب والتساخين»
It is narrated from Thawban رضي الله عنه:
“The Messenger of Allah ﷺ dispatched a group of fighters … and he commanded them to wipe over the turbans and the tasākhīn (things worn to keep the feet warm — including socks and leather footwear).”
[Sunan Abi Dawud, Vol. 1, p. 21, Hadith 146]
The chain of this narration is authentic. Both Imam al-Hakim and Imam al-Dhahabi have graded it Sahih. [al-Mustadrak with Talkhīs, Vol. 1, p. 169, Hadith 602]
❀ Practice of the Companions
Imam Abu Dawud رحمه الله said:
“The following Companions wiped over socks: ‘Ali bin Abi Talib, Abu Mas‘ud (Ibn Mas‘ud), al-Bara’ bin ‘Azib, Anas bin Malik, Abu Umamah, and Sahl bin Sa‘d رضي الله عنهم.”
[Sunan Abi Dawud 1/24 before Hadith 160]
He also said:
“‘Ali bin Abi Talib, Abu Mas‘ud, al-Bara’ bin ‘Azib, Anas bin Malik, Abu Umamah, Sahl bin Sa‘d, and ‘Amr bin Harith wiped over socks; and it is also narrated from ‘Umar bin al-Khattab and Ibn ‘Abbas رضي الله عنهم.”
[Sunan Abi Dawud 1/24, Hadith 159]
These reports from the Companions are recorded with chains in Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah (1/188–189), Musannaf ‘Abd al-Razzaq (1/199–200), al-Muḥallā by Ibn Hazm (2/84), al-Kunā by al-Dulabi (1/181), etc.
❀ Scholarly Consensus
- Imam Ibn Qudāmah رحمه الله said:
“Since the Companions wiped over socks, and no opponent was known in their time, this amounts to consensus (ijmā‘).”
[al-Mughnī 1/181, Issue 426]
- Mursal and marfū‘ narrations also support this consensus. See [al-Mustadrak 1/169, Hadith 602].
- Wiping over khuffayn (leather socks) is established from mutawātir Ahadith, and socks (jawrab) are considered a type of khuff according to reports from Anas رضي الله عنه, Ibrāhīm al-Nakha‘i, and Nāfi‘.
Those who deny wiping over socks have no explicit proof from the Qur’an, Sunnah, or ijmā‘.
❀ Reports from the Companions and Successors
① ‘Ali رضي الله عنه relieved himself, performed wudu, and wiped over his socks. [al-Awsat by Ibn al-Mundhir 1/462 — chain authentic]
② Abu Umamah رضي الله عنه wiped over socks. [Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah 1/188, Hadith 1979 — chain Hasan]
③ al-Bara’ bin ‘Azib رضي الله عنه wiped over socks. [Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah 1/189, Hadith 1984 — chain Sahih]
④ ‘Uqbah bin ‘Amir رضي الله عنه wiped over socks. [Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah 1/189, Hadith 1987 — chain Sahih]
⑤ Sahl bin Sa‘d رضي الله عنه wiped over socks. [Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah 1/189, Hadith 1990 — chain Hasan]
Ibn al-Mundhir narrated that Imam Ishaq bin Rahwayh said: “There is no disagreement among the Companions on this matter.” Ibn Hazm رحمه الله expressed similar words. Ibn Qudāmah رحمه الله confirmed the ijmā‘.
❀ Reports from the Tābi‘īn and Scholars
- Ibrāhīm al-Nakha‘i رحمه الله wiped over socks. [Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah 1/188, Hadith 1977 — chain Sahih]
- Sa‘īd bin Jubayr رحمه الله wiped over socks. [Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah 1/189, Hadith 1989 — chain Sahih]
- ‘Aṭā’ bin Abi Rabāḥ رحمه الله approved wiping over socks. [al-Muḥallā 2/86]
Among the jurists:
- Qadi Abu Yusuf رحمه الله, Muhammad bin al-Hasan al-Shaybani رحمه الله, and later Imam Abu Hanifah رحمه الله (after retracting his earlier position) allowed wiping over socks, and this became the muftā bih (official) view in the Hanafi school. [al-Hidayah 1/61]
Imam al-Tirmidhi رحمه الله wrote:
“Sufyan al-Thawri, Ibn al-Mubarak, al-Shafi‘i, Ahmad, and Ishaq (bin Rahwayh) all permitted wiping over socks — on condition that they are thick.” [Sunan al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 99]
Conclusion
According to authentic Ahadith, ijmā‘ of the Companions, agreement of many Tābi‘īn, and positions of the great Imams, wiping over socks is valid and legislated in Islam. The opposing view has no sound evidence.
