Answered by Sidi Salman Younas
I have heard that Imam Abu Hanifa during his last years when he was sick, did masah on his feet. Is this true? People who do masah on socks use this as proof?
salamu `alaykum
I pray you are well.
The position of Imam Abu Hanifa was on the invalidity of wiping over ‘socks’ not completely made of leather or soled with it. The position of his two main students, Imam Muhammad and Abu Yusuf, was on the validity of wiping over ‘socks’ as long as they were thick enough to prevent the immediate transfer of water – whether made of leather or otherwise. (Maydani, al Lubab fi Sharh al Kitab Pg: 59)
However, it is established that Imam Abu Hanifa went back on his position and agreed with the stance of his two students. It is narrated that at the end of his life he himself wiped over his ‘socks’ (jawrab), stating that he was now performing what he had previously forbidden. This, according to the scholars, was an indication of his ruju`. Thus, it is stated in Ibn Qutlubagha’s al Tashih, “It is related concerning him [s: Abu Hanifa] that he returned to their position [s: the two companions], and the fatwa is upon this.” This is also what is mentioned in the Hidaya, Bada`i, and by Ibn `Abidin in his Radd al Muhtar.
The upshot is that it is valid to wipe over any footgear that fulfills the conditions of wiping whether made from leather or otherwise. This is what is generally indicated in the texts and Ibn `Abidin states this explicitly quoting Nasafi.
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And Allah Knows Best
Wasalam
Salman
Approved by Faraz Rabbani
وحاصله – كما في شرح الجامع لقاضيخان – ونصه : ولو مسح على الجوربين فإن كانا ثخينين منعلين جاز بالاتفاق وإن لم يكونا ثخينين منعلين لا يجوز بالاتفاق وإن كانا ثخينين غير منعلين لا يجوز في قول الإمام خلافا لصاحبيه وروى أن الإمام رجع إلى قولهما في المرض الذي مات فيه اه