Q. I have read an answer to a question about wiping over one’s socks with one’s wet hand instead of washing our feet when we perform the ablution, or wudhu. The scholar who has given the answer to this question makes it clear that it is permissible only when three conditions are met. Otherwise it is unacceptable. The three conditions are: 1) the socks must be thick so as to prevent water penetration; 2) they must stay in place without support; and 3) one should be able to walk without shoes for a reasonable distance without tearing them. Even if all three conditions are met, he says, scholars differ with some of them not allowing wiping at all. Please comment.
S.N. Ahmad
A. Thank you for sending me the full answer so that I could see the reasoning and the evidence cited. When I read such views I immediately remember the statement of Imam Al-Hasan Al-Basri who died in 110 AH and belonged to the Tabieen generation that followed that of the Prophet’s companions. He was a great imam whose students included one with the name Abu Haneefah. Al-Hasan says: “True scholarship, or fiqh, is evidenced by an easy ruling given by a reliable scholar. Strictness can be mastered by anyone.” This is a case of unnecessary strictness that has no supporting evidence. The writer relies on the words of scholars whom he does not name. Those whom he quotes do not cite any evidence, and they are of no great standing. Hence, we need to look for reliable evidence before giving a ruling. In order to do so without taking too much space I will quote what one of the most highly respected scholars of our times has written on this subject. This is Sheikh Sayyid Sabiq who writes in his priceless book Fiqh Al-Sunnah.
“Wiping over socks is perfectly permissible as it has been reported by many of the Prophet’s companions. Abu Dawood, the great Hadith scholar says: ‘Those who wiped over socks include Ali ibn Abi Talib, Ibn Masoud, Al-Bara’ ibn Azib, Anas ibn Malik, Abu Umamah, Sahl ibn Saad, Amr ibn Hurayth, Umar ibn Al-Khattab and Ibn Abbas.’ It is also reported to have been done by Ammar, Bilal ibn Abdullah and Ibn Umar. In Tahdheeb Al-Sunan by Ibn Al-Qayyim, a leading Hanbali scholar, it is reported that “Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal stated the permissibility of wiping over socks. This is evidence of his fairness and fine scholarship, as he relies on these companions of the Prophet and clear analogy. There is little difference between socks and the khuff, which is an inner pair of shoes, to require a special verdict for socks. Indeed wiping over socks is agreed by the majority of scholars.”
Other scholars approving it include Sufyan Al-Thawri, Ibn Al-Mubarak, Ata’, Al-Hasan and Saeed ibn Al-Musayyib... Abu Haneefah used not to approve wiping over thick socks, but he changed his view three or seven days before his death, and wiped over his thick socks when he was ill. He told his visitors that he did what he used to disapprove of. Al-Mugheerah ibn Shu’bah reports that “the Prophet performed his ablutions wiping over his socks and sandals.” (Related by Ahmad, Al-Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah)... It is also permissible to wipe over whatever covers the feet, such as bandages, or other wrappings... If the socks or khuff have holes, they are still permissible to wipe over, as long as they are normally worn. Al-Thawri says: “The Prophet’s companions’ khuffs were like those of other people, some of which have holes in them. Had it been restricted to wipe over them, it would have been reported.” I have very little to add to what this scholar has said. I would like to say that it is sufficient that a practice is authentically reported to have been done by such a number of the Prophet’s companions to give it a verdict not only of permissibility, but rather of encouragement and desirability. To restrict it is unscholarly.
As for the conditions, they have not been quoted in any reliable source. Therefore, they should be discarded. There are simply no socks that will not be torn if used for walking without shoes.