Wiping Over Cloth Socks: A Jurisprudential Perspective

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

Wiping Over Cloth Socks

By: Dr. Muhammad Akram Nadwi

Oxford

Disclaimer:

This article has been translated by AI for accessibility purposes. For the original Arabic text, please refer to this link: https://t.me/DrAkramNadwi/5764.

Question

Molana Jamal Ahmad Nadwi, a member of the Shura at Darul Uloom Nadwatul Ulama, sent the following question:
“Assalamu Alaikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuhu. I hope you are well. What is your opinion regarding wiping over cloth socks? Scholars of Ahl-e-Hadith allow it. If the socks are thick, is wiping permissible or not? Kindly provide clarification. JazakAllah Khair.”

Response

The Arabic term for socks is “Jawrab” (جورب), derived from the Persian word “Gor-e-Pa” (گور پا), meaning “grave of the foot.” These were originally made from wool or cotton to cover the feet, not leather. While some ancient civilizations used leather for footwear, it never gained widespread acceptance.

Among the Arabs, socks were uncommon, and thus, no specific Arabic word existed for them. “Jawrab” was adopted from Persian. By the later period of the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) and during the time of the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them), Jawrab began to be used. In the Indian subcontinent, there is a common misconception that Arabs primarily wore leather socks, known as Khuff (plural: Khuffain). This notion is incorrect; Khuff actually refers to a type of shoe covering the ankles.

The use of leather socks in the subcontinent was introduced primarily to facilitate the act of wiping (masah) over them, considering it an act of necessity. However, under normal circumstances, people typically wear cloth socks.

Personal Experience and Rationale

Initially, upon arriving in England, I did not permit wiping over socks (Jawrab). However, I observed that many people faced difficulties washing their feet in public places, often missing their prayers during travel or even while residing in a single place. After deeply reflecting on the issue, I issued a fatwa permitting wiping over socks. Many individuals expressed relief, stating that this fatwa helped them maintain regular prayers, especially in offices, universities, public spaces, or during travel.

My evidence for this ruling comes from authentic ahadith permitting wiping over Khuffain (leather socks), some of which are recorded in Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim. While some argue that there is a difference between Khuff and Jawrab, this distinction does not impact the ruling. The primary basis for the ruling is that both Khuff and Jawrab cover the feet. Since they share this essential characteristic, their ruling should also be the same. Differentiating between identical matters or equating dissimilar ones contradicts reason.

Practice of the Companions (Sahaba)

Among the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) who wiped over socks were:

Ali ibn Abi Talib

Ibn Mas’ud

Ibn Umar

Al-Bara’ ibn Azib

Anas ibn Malik

Abu Umamah

Sahl ibn Sa’d

Amr ibn Harith

Additionally, it is narrated that Umar ibn Khattab and Ibn Abbas also practiced this, and none of the other Companions opposed them. This consensus (ijma’ sukuti) is considered evidence by many jurists.

Practice of the Tabi’een and Early Scholars

Many scholars among the Tabi’een and early imams also allowed wiping over socks, including:

Sa’id ibn Al-Musayyib

Nafi’ Mawla Ibn Umar

Ata ibn Abi Rabah

Sa’id ibn Jubayr

Ibrahim Al-Nakha’i

Sufyan Al-Thawri

Abu Yusuf

Muhammad ibn Al-Hasan

Al-Shafi’i

Ahmad ibn Hanbal

Conditions for Socks

Some scholars stipulated conditions for socks, such as being thick, preventing water from seeping through, or staying in place without being tied. However, these conditions are procedural and do not affect the core ruling.

Anecdotal Evidence from Abu Hanifa It is reported that Imam Abu Hanifa (may Allah have mercy on him) allowed wiping over socks later in his life. Imam Tirmidhi mentions:
“Salih ibn Muhammad Al-Tirmidhi said: I heard Abu Maqatil As-Samarqandi say, ‘I visited Abu Hanifa during his final illness. I saw him perform wudu and wipe over his socks. He said, ‘Today, I have done something I previously refrained from.’”

This incident is also recorded in Bada’i As-Sana’i and other Hanafi texts.

Contemporary Endorsements

When I wrote an Arabic article on the permissibility of wiping over socks, several prominent scholars supported it. Among them:

1. Shaykh Majd ibn Ahmad Makki:
He wrote to me agreeing with my view and mentioned that Shaykh Mustafa Zarqa, a renowned Hanafi scholar, also permitted wiping over even thin socks.

2. Shaykh Muhammad Adil Faris:
He informed me that Shaykh Abdul Fattah Abu Ghudda (may Allah have mercy on him) also allowed wiping over socks. When asked if socks needed to be thick, he responded that even thin socks suffice.

Conclusion

Wiping over socks is permissible based on the authentic traditions and the practices of the Companions and early scholars. This ruling provides ease and convenience for Muslims, particularly in challenging situations.