Wiping the Socks (For Shaikh Bary)

Shaikh Abdul Bary, a few questions came up in our study regarding the wiping over leather socks:

1. There is a lot of literature out there that claims that wiping over the socks is valid only for leather socks (khufoof), and that this is the consensus of all the fuqahaa, including the four madhahib. They also claim that only some contemporary scholars (including scholars of the Hijaz, Maududi and others) and Ibn Taymiyyah differed on this.

You stated that Imam Ahmad allowed wiping over all types of socks as well as 2 students of Abu Hanifa. Can you point to a reference for this?

2. If the ahadith pertaining to wiping over non-leather socks (jawarib) are weak, what is the proof that it is still allowed?

Jazakallahu khairan

[shaheed]

Assalamu'alaikum Abu Zayd,

I have recently delved into this issue and have the same questions as yourself. I read in Fiqh-us-Sunnah from Shaykh Assayid Sabiq who mentions that most of the scholars allow wiping over socks and that its basically the same as a khuf. However, when I tell this to others, they tell me what the books like Fiqh-al-arbe'a' say which is that one of the conditions is that water not pass through the sock. The least conditions are from Imam Hanbal but the stumbling block is where he says that the socks must be something that is generally walked in. What exactly is this walking? at home? outside?

Abu Zayd, were you able to get answers to your questions that you have here. Did anyone else?

[Abdur Rahman Mirza]

Assalamu 'alaikum,

Whenever we talk to the Shaikh who has taught us knowledge, we never say "You said this" or "You said that." We always say "We said in class" or "We said this or that." Saying you puts you into a debating stance with the Shaikh.

Also if he said Imam Ahmed said it, that means automatically that he didn't say it. LOL.

Took the first part straight from Shaikh Yaser Birjas.

[Yusuf513Khan]

Originally Posted by Abu Zayd

2. If the ahadith pertaining to wiping over non-leather socks (jawarib) are weak, what is the proof that it is still allowed?

This might shed some light

Originally Posted by Sh. Ayman

1. The Hadeeth that states Allah's Messenger (صلى الله عليه وسلم) wipping on his socks is weak as most scholars agreed on such like:Imam Muslim, Imam Ahmad, Al-Nasai'e, Al-daraqutni, Sufyan Al-Thawri, Ibn Ma'in and others.

2. It is proven that wiping on socks was practiced by many companions who reached in number 9 companions as Ibn Al-Munthir transmitted.

Those scholars who classify the Hadeeth as weak but allowed wiping on socks relied on the consideration of the act of the companions and the similiarities between the Khuff and the Jawrab (socks) [ used Qiyaas on Khuff]. However, to understand the matter correctly then we need to know what scholars meant with socks. In other words, socks represent what existed at that time not what people tend to know these days. That's said, scholars pointed out the conditions that must be in the socks so that they can be accepted to wipe on it.

To state, in simple terms, the requirments of the socks that qualifies it to be wiped on, just think of the Khuff and use qiyaas on it. i.e. thik that can be used to walk on for long distance, above the anckle, hold tight to itself. These conditions were trasnmitted by the following scholars Abu hanifa, Al-Shafi'e, Ahmad bin Hanbal, Malik, Sufyan Althawri, Ibn Almubarak, Ishaaq and many other scholars. If the concesion was given due to the hardship of taking them then this is true only if they were similar to the actual socks that early scholars referred to. Nowaday's socks do not bring any hardship to take them off.

It is lentghy topic but the above can give you an idea about it inshallah. And excuse me if I take some time to reply as I am bit busy these days.

keep us in your Dua'a.

Wallahu A'lam

[Abdul Razzaq]

I know I read on Islamqa that Umar said we used to wipe our socks no matter what they were made out of.

I also read something interesting in provision for the hearafter on pg 339 that I had posted up a couple days ago. That there are are authentic hadiths that Rusullah wiped over his shoes (his shoes were sandals without backs)