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Procedure for wiping over socks

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I have a Question regarding wiping over socks, but not to do with the rules of the type of sock etc. If you perform Wudu, completely, then put your socks on, do you have to wipe over them? Whether they are cotton, or leather, or if they satisfy the conditions of leather socks? Or is it that if you perform a full Wudu, you can put socks on, even if they are cotton, but if you break your Wudu, you cannot re-new by wiping over the socks, unless they are leather socks, or satisfy the condition for leather  socks.

So in essence the Question is, does the procedure for wiping over socks only apply when one is renewing his Wudu, or whenever one puts socks on.

Answer:
In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

In the name of Allah, Most Compassionate, Most Merciful,  

Al-Salam `alaykum

If I understood the Question correctly the following might help to clear your doubts.

If after performing wudu you put on your socks you can offer salah in them no matter what type of sock it is (cotton, nylon, leather etc.)

When your wudu is nullified and you need to take a fresh wudu then, at this time, when making wudu, instead of washing the feet you can wipe over socks that fulfill the conditions for wiping over them (See below). You cannot wipe over regular cotton or nylon socks that do not fulfill these conditions.

Abu Usamah

from Anis al-Musafir:

WIPING (MASAH) OVER SOCKS (KHUFFAYN)

DEFINITION OF KHUFFAYN

Khuffayn refer to a special type of socks that fulfil the following conditions:

1.        They are waterproof.

2.        Walking in them for three miles without the socks tearing is possible.

3.        They remain in position, covering the feet, without being tied. Socks which have elastic sewn into them (to keep them in position) will be regarded as being tied.

§         Socks that fulfil these conditions are recognized as khuffayn in the Shari’ah. Hence cotton, woollen and nylon socks are not khuffayn and masah cannot be made on them. They must be removed and the feet must be washed.

§         It is not permissible to make masah on a khuff that is torn to such an extent that an area equal to the size of three small toes is exposed. It is permissible to make masah on the sock if it is torn less than this.

LAWS REGARDING MASAH ON THE KHUFFAYN

1.        Masah will be valid on the khuffayn if they are worn after having attained complete taharah i.e. in the condition of wudu.

2.        Masah is permissible for a musafir for a period of 72 hours. The period for a muqim is 24 hours.

3.        This period is calculated from the first time the wudu breaks after having worn the Khuffayn.

4.        Upon expiry of the period the masah breaks. If the person wearing them was in a condition of wudu prior to that he must simply remove the khuffayn and wash his feet. It is not necessary to repeat the entire wudu.

5.        The period is lengthened from 24 hours to 72 hours for a muqim who begins a journey before the expiry of 24 hours.

6.        Similarly the period is reduced from 72 hours to 24 hours for a musafir who becomes a muqim.

THE METHOD OF MAKING MASAH

®      Draw the fingers of the hand on the upper surface of the khuff starting from the toes and ending above the ankle.

®      The right hand is used for the right khuff and the left hand for the left khuff.

®      Masah is done once on each sock.

It is Fard (Compulsory) to make masah on each sock to the extent of the full surface area of three fingers.

FACTORS THAT NULLIFY THE MASAH

The following factors nullify the masah:

1.        All factors that nullify wudu. In this case the masah must be renewed when the wudu is renewed.

2.        Removing both the khuffs or one of them.

If the khuff is lowered to the extent that most of the foot is exposed then it will be regarded as if the entire khuff was removed and the masah will be nullified.

3.        Water entering the khuff and wetting more than half the foot.

4.        Ghusl becoming obligatory.

5.       Expiry of the valid masah period as stipulated above. (See Page 10)

This answer was indexed from Qibla.com, which used to have a repository of Islamic Q&A answered by various scholars. The website is no longer in existence. It has now been transformed into a learning portal with paid Islamic course offering under the brand of Kiflayn.

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