It
says in Mawsoo’ah al-Fiqhiyyah (Summarised from 39/273-279):
Issue:
Conditions for Wiping Over the Khuff (or Shoes and Socks):
-The
majority are of the opinion that it is not permissible for a person to wipe
over his socks if he is in the state of Janaabah (ritual impurity that requires
Ghusl).
-It is permitted to wipe if one has minor impurity that only
requires Wudhoo for the impurity to be lifted. This is the view of the majority.
-One
must have washed (both) their feet before wearing the socks, wearing them whilst in a state of purity because of the Hadeeth,
“Leave them (the socks) on, because I wore them in the state of purity.”
Connected
to this condition the scholars differed; The majority, except ash-Shaafi’ee,
were of the opinion that one must wash his feet before putting on his socks in
order for the wiping over them to be valid. As for ash-Shaafi’ee, he was of the
opinion that the feet may be washed or one may lift the state of impurity from
himself by doing at-Tayammum, on the condition that he was unable to find
water.
The
majority, except the Hanafees, were of the opinion that one must wash both of his
feet in order to put the socks on; both feet must be washed and then the socks
worn for them to be valid for wiping. As for the Hanafees, they were of the
opinion that one may wash his foot and put on a sock and wash the other foot
and put on the other sock. This branches off from the opinion they held that
Wudhoo doesn’t need to be done in order. So if one was to wash his feet and
then wipe his head, this Wudhoo would be correct with the Hanafees but not with
the majority.
-That
the sock (s) (or shoes) must be pure in and of themselves. It is not
permissible to wipe over clothing that is impure, such as pigskin before it has
been tanned, this is the opinion of the Hanafee and the Shaafi’ees. The Maalikees
and the Hanbalees were of the view that even tanning doesn’t lift the impurity
of impure leather, this is because whatever is impure remains impure and
prohibited.
-The
sock(s) (or shoes) must completely cover ones foot, the area that they would
normally wash. Therefore, it is not permissible to wipe over socks that are
below the ankles.
-One
is able to walk in them (regardless of material):
The
Hanafees were of the view that walking a distance of a Farsakh (approximately 5
KM) and another view of the Hanafee Madhab is that one should be able to walk
the distance in which one will be considered as a traveller (approximately 86 KM
with most of the Hanafees). As a result, the Hanafees are of the view that
anything too thin can’t be wiped over and likewise, one can’t wipe over footwear
that is made from wood or glass or iron (hypothetically), because one is not
able to walk in this type of footwear. Added to this they opined that footwear
that doesn’t cling to the foot cannot be wiped over.
The
Maalikees were of the view that the footwear that is customarily used to walk
in is acceptable to wipe over, otherwise it is not allowed. It is also not
allowed to wipe over footwear that doesn’t cling to the foot.
The
Shaafi’ees were of the view that wiping over socks that one can walk the
distance of being able to go out to the toilet and return (those days they used
to go away from the people to a designated place to relieve themselves). Also,
if the footwear can be worn for the time period in which a person can wipe over
them, (i.e. one can fulfill the objective; either a day or three days for the
traveller) then this is permissible for one to wipe over. Furthermore, the
material can be from leather or other than that.
The
Hanbalees were of the view that footwear that one can wipe over can be made
from any material, leather or wood or any other material. However, this is on
the condition that one is able to walk in them and that they stick to his feet.
-The
socks must be free from major tears and holes.
The
Hanafees and the Maalikees were of the view that minor tears or holes are
acceptable for wiping over. What is considered as minor is the measurement of
three or four fingers or the a third of the foot.
The
Shaafi’ees and the Hanbalees are the view that it is not permissible to wipe
over the Khuff even if there is a small tear or whole. This is because it
ceases to be a covering over the foot, therefore it is a must that the whole
foot must be covered.
-The
material of the footwear doesn’t need to be made from leather.
The
Maalikees were of the view that wiping can only be done over leather footwear
that is stitched. Wiping over normal socks or any other material that is
unstitched is not acceptable with them.
The
majority of the scholars (Hanafees, Shaafi’ees and the Hanbalees) were of the
view that footwear that can be wiped over can be made from leather or any other
material. The only condition they placed over its material is that the sock
must not leak water onto the foot once wiped.
-If
one wears another sock over the sock he is already wearing, then he must have
worn the second pair in the state of purity for them to be acceptable to be
wiped over.
The
Hanafees and the Maalikees placed conditions on a second pair worn over the
first pair: 1) one must be able to walk in the second pair and 2) that one
wears the second pair in the state of purity.
The
Shaafi’ees placed four conditions: 1) that they be walkable, 2) they don’t seep
water unless on intends to wipe over the first pair, 3) that they both be wiped
over (i.e. one isn’t shorter than the other) and 4) that wiping over one covers
the second.
The
Hanbalees stated that as long as the second pair covers the first, then one is
allowed to wipe over them. This means that both feet must be covered with the
same pair and that one foot is not left bear. Likewise, they placed the same
conditions that applied to the first pear to the second, so they must cover the
foot and one must wear them in the state of purity.
-It
is not a condition that the sock must conceal what is under the foot.
The
Hanafees opined that the sock must not leak water onto the foot or whatever is
worn below the sock.
The
Maalikees insisted that the sock must be made out of leather for it to be
acceptable to wipe over.
