Question:
As salamu aleykum,
Is the following statement about Masah over socks correct:
Imam Abu Hanifah did do ruju’ from his position.
Imam Qudoori in his Mukhtasar states:
ولا يجوز المسح على الجوربين عند أبي حنيفة إلا أن يكونا مجلدين أو منعلين . وقال أبو يوسف ومحمد : يجوز المسح على الجوربين إذا كانا ثخينين لا يشفان الماء ( 1) ولا يجوز المسح على العمامة والقلنسوة ( 2 ) والبرقع والقفازين
– Wiping is not permissible (i.e. not valid) according to Abu Hanifah unless they are covered or soled with leather. Abu Yusuf and Muhammad said: It is permissible and valid to wipe over socks if they are such that they don’t absorb the water.
(end quote)
The position of the Saahibayn was, however, the final position of Imam Abu Hanifah. Imam Maydani in his Al Lubab fi Sharh Al Kitab quotes Imam Qutlubaghas Al Tashih that it is established that Abu Hanifah returned to the position of his two students:
قال في التصحيح وعنه أنه رجع إلى قولهما وعليه الفتوى هداية
He (Imam Maydani) further states:
ولو مسح على الجوربين فإن كانا ثخينين منعلين جاز بالاتفاق
That is the socks do not absorb water it will be permissible to wipe over them by agreement (itifaaq)
However, the word “absorb” here does not mean “water proof” but rather refers to “immediate absorption”. This is also understood from `Ala’ Al Din `Abidin’s summary of footgear valid to wipe on, taken from his father Ibn `Abidins Radd al Muhtar, because he said that the footgear must:
– Prevent water from reaching the body when wiped upon (`inda al mash)
and `inda (‘when’) implies immediacy, as the scholars of Arabic language confirm, especially in the precise usage of jurists.
The person who outlines the permissibility most explicitly is Shaykh Ibrahim al Halabi in his commentary on Munyat Al Musalli – famous as al Halabi al Kabir.
Imam Ibn ‘Abidin also states:
– It is also pointed to by what Tahtawi quotes from al Khaniya that anything that is akin to (fi ma`na) footgear in the possibility of extensive walking and travel is permitted to wipe over, even it is from Roman cloth (libd rumi). (Ibn `Abidin, Radd al-Muhtar 1.179, Bulaq ed.)
So according to this it is permissible to make Masah over socks if they fulfil the conditions of the Khuff, whether these socks are cotton or otherwise
(end quote)
Is this correct?
Wassalaam
Answer:
The above mentioned text is correct. The Mas’ala goes as follows, if the nylon or woollen socks is so thick that it won’t tear if walked with it for a mile, the water doesn’t reach the foot when making Masah, it is large enough to conceal the ankles and is able to remain firm to the foot without the assistance of a lace, then it will be permissible to make Masah on such a socks. (Ad Durrul Mukhtaar v1 pg 197 Fataawaa Mahmoodiyah pg 33 v17)
And Allah Ta’ala knows best
Mufti Muhammad Ashraf
Darul Iftaa
Jameah Mahmoodiyah
Springs
18 February 2006
19 Muharram 1427