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Monday, January 06, 2014

Winter: Wiping Over the Khuff (Leather Socks).

It says in Mawsoo’ah al-Fiqhiyyah (39/269-271):
Issue: Wiping over the Khuff (leather) Socks.

Wiping over the Khuff is affirmed in the Sharee’ah by the way of the Prophetic Sunnah.

It is has been narrated that ‘Alee bin Abee Taalib [May Allaah be Pleased with him] said, “Had this religion been based on opinions and intellect (solely) then one would wipe under the Khuff rather than on top of it. However, I saw the Messenger of Allaah [Peace and Blessings of Allaah be upon him] wipe over his Khuff.” 

It is also narrated that Jareer bin ‘Abdullah al-Bajalee [May Allaah be Pleased with him] went to the toilet and then performed Wudhoo and then wiped over his Khuff. It was said to him, “Is this your practice?” He replied, “Yes, I saw the Messenger of Allaah [Peace and Blessings of Allaah be upon him] go the toilet and then perform Wudhoo and wipe over his Khuff.”

Jareer became Muslim after the revelation of the Aayah which commands washing of the feet (thus proving its legislation):

and (wash) your feet up to ankles” [Maaidah 5:6]

It is also narrated that the wiping over the Khuff has been narrated from more than eighty companions [May Allaah be Pleased with him] and from them are then ten that were promised Jannah (i.e. the best of them).

Issue: Is it Better to Wipe or Wash?

In origin wiping is permitted however washing is preferred by the majority of the scholars.

It is a Rukhsah (consent) given in the Sharee’ah and Allaah, the Glorified, Loves for what His consented to be accepted and acted upon.

Based on this, the Hanbalees opined that it is better to wipe because in this situation both washing and wiping are legislated.


It can be obligatory to wipe if one fears harm from using the water (due to injury or the coldness). It is also obligatory if there is not much time for the time of the Salaah to end and that by washing one may miss the Salaah or make it hard for him to complete it before the time expires. Some also stated that it is also obligatory for one to wipe and not wash if one fears that he will miss the second Rak’ah on the day of Jumu’ah (i.e. he will miss the Jumu’ah prayer and will pray Dhuhr instead). 

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