Q: Assalamu alaikum Mufti Saab
Regarding masah on socks…
1) The condition that mentions water not penetrating the sock – does the sock have to not absorb water when masah is made, or when water is poured on the sock?
2) The condition mentioning that the socks should not be tied – are socks with elastic considered to be tied? If I have socks that conceal the skin, that can be walked in for 3 miles, and that prevent water from reaching the foot when masah is made, but the socks are held in place by elastic, can masah be made on them?
A: The condition that mentions water not penetrating the sock means that while making Masah with the wet hands, the water/wetness on the hands must not be able to penetrate the sock in a way that the moisture/wetness reaches the feet. It does not refer to if water was poured on the sock.
With respect to the sock not being tied, it means that the sock can stay on to the feet firmly on its own without doing anything for this to happen. If the elastic is part of the sock and made with it, to help the sock stay firm on the feet, then this will be acceptable for Masah when the other conditions are fulfilled. However, if you have to use separate elastic to hold up the sock and it is not in the sock (made as part of it), then this will not be acceptable for Masah.
And Allah Knows Best.
Mufti Waseem Khan.
26/11/2013