Ishell Socks

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.

In order to determine the permissibility of making Masah (wiping) on non-leather socks, it is imperative that the socks fulfil all the conditions that are necessary for making Masah (wiping) on leather socks. After thoroughly studying the inherent qualities of leather socks, our illustrious Fuqāhā’ have suggested that non-leather socks should resemble leather socks in the following:

• They should cover both the ankles entirely.
• They should be durable enough that a person can walk with the sock for three miles without them tearing.
• Both socks should be independently free from holes to the extent of three small toes.
• The socks should remain on the leg without being tied or fastened.
• They should be such that water does not seep through them. ^[1]

We have not examined and physically tested the Ishell socks referred to in the question.

We need to physically examine the socks by conducting a durability test on them by walking the necessary three Shar’ī miles, as well as conducting a water resistance test and a test to ascertain whether the socks are able to stand on the legs without being fastened or tied. Only then will we able to pass a ruling.

The following socks have been approved by the Darul Iftaa:

–        Sealskinz product distributed by MIS Distributors

–        HANZ (SealSkinz waterproof socks were being marketed in the U.S.A using the SealSkinz brand name. Now, these socks are being marketed in the U.S.A using the HANZ brand name instead of the SealSkinz brand name.)

–        Dexshell UltraLite,

–        Dexshell Coolvent Lite,

–        Dexshell Wudu and

–        Dexshell Coolvent. 

And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best

Safwaan Ibn Ml Ahmed Ibn Ibrahim

Student Darul Iftaa
Limbe, Malawi

Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.

______________________

المحيط البرهاني في الفقه النعماني (1/ 344) [المجلس العلمي][1]

وإن كان ثخيناً مستمسكاً ويستر الكعب ستراً لا يراه الناظر كما هو جوارب أهل مرو، فعلى قول أبي حنيفة رحمه الله: لا يجوز المسح عليه، إلا إذا كان منعلاً أو مبطناً، وعلى  قولهما: يجوز.

الفتاوى الهندية (1/ 32) [إمدادية]

وَالثَّخِينِ الذي ليس مُجَلَّدًا وَلَا مُنَعَّلًا بِشَرْطِ أَنْ يَسْتَمْسِكَ على السَّاقِ بِلَا رَبْطٍ وَلَا يُرَى ما تَحْتَهُ وَعَلَيْهِ الْفَتْوَى كَذَا في النَّهْرِ الْفَائِقِ

الدر المختار وحاشية ابن عابدين (رد المحتار) (1/ 269) [أيج ايم سعيد]

قال الحصكفي: (الثخينين) بحيث يمشي فرسخا ويثبت على الساق ولا يرى ما تحته ولا يشف إلا أن ينفذ إلى الخف قدر الغرض.

قال ابن عابدين: (قوله على الثخينين) أي اللذين ليسا مجلدين ولا منعلين نهر، وهذا التقييد مستفاد من عطف ما بعده عليه، وبه يعلم أنه نعت للجوربين فقط كما هو صريح عبارة الكنز.

http://askimam.org/public/question_detail/32025