What are the Conditions for Wiping Over Footgear?
Shafi'i Fiqh
Answered by Shaykh Irshaad Sedick
Question
What are the Conditions for Wiping Over Footgear?
Answer
In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate. May Allah alleviate our difficulties and guide us to that which is pleasing to Him. Amin.
The conditions for the permissibility of wiping footgear according to the relied upon views of the Shafi‘i School, are:
(a) that one has full ablution when one first puts them on;
(b) that they are free of filth;
(c) that they cover the whole foot up to and including the anklebones;
(d) that they prevent water (if dripped on them drop by drop from directly) reaching the foot (if water reaches the foot through the holes of a seam’s statues, it does not affect the validity of wiping them, though if water can reach the foot through any other place, it violates this condition);
(e) and that they are durable enough to keep walking around upon travelers do in attending to their needs (when encamping, departing, etc.) – no matter whether they are of leather, felt, layers of rags (including thick, heavy wool socks that prevent water from reaching the foot (Though not modern dress socks (due to non (d) and (e) above), which are not valid to wipe in any school, even if many are worn in layers), wood, or other; nor whether they have a cleavage laced up with eyelets (provided none of the foot shows).
One may not wipe footgear if wearing just one of a pair, washing the other foot. Nor if any part of the foot shows through a hole in them. [Keller, Reliance of the Traveller]
Alternative Views
The official view of the Shafi’i school does not allow one to wipe over cotton socks, as it does not fulfill the condition of having the quality of preventing water from penetrating it, should water be poured over it.
However, alternative views exist within the Shafi‘i school. One such view only required that the sock should prevent water from penetrating it, when one wipes over the sock with soiled hands, and not when water is poured over it. Another view stated that the quality of preventing water from penetrating the sock is not a condition at all. [Al-Majmu‘ Sharh al-Muhadhdhab]
Based on these two unofficial alternative views within the Shafi’i School, wiping over cotton socks would be permitted. It is generally preferred that one acts according to the preponderant view of the school, while one is permitted, in his personal capacity, to act upon an unofficial view.
In addition and in retrospect, the scholars have stated that people’s actions are to be judged according to any view that exists within the four schools that deems their actions valid (haml al-nas ‘ala aysar al-madhahib). Allah knows best.
I pray this is of benefit and that Allah guides us all.
[Shaykh] Irshaad Sedick
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
Shaykh Irshaad Sedick was raised in South Africa in a traditional Muslim family. He graduated from Dar al-Ulum al-Arabiyyah al-Islamiyyah in Strand, Western Cape, under the guidance of the late world-renowned scholar, Shaykh Taha Karaan.
Shaykh Irshaad received Ijaza from many luminaries of the Islamic world, including Shaykh Taha Karaan, Mawlana Yusuf Karaan, and Mawlana Abdul Hafeez Makki, among others.
He is the author of the text “The Musnad of Ahmad ibn Hanbal: A Hujjah or not?” He has served as the Director of the Discover Islam Centre and Al Jeem Foundation. For the last five years till present, he has served as the Khatib of Masjid Ar-Rashideen, Mowbray, Cape Town.
Shaykh Irshaad has thirteen years of teaching experience at some of the leading Islamic institutes in Cape Town). He is currently building an Islamic online learning and media platform called ‘Isnad Academy’ and pursuing his Master’s degree in the study of Islam at the University of Johannesburg. He has a keen interest in healthy living and fitness.
