This article speaks of a particular area that is a cause of confusion for many. It is about doing masah over the socks and the condition of it remaining after the socks are taken off. We know that once wudhu is performed and socks are worn, the wudhu remains and it is nullified when one of the conditions that nullify the wudhu occurs. The question is that if the wudhu was done and the socks were worn and even if masah was done but the socks were then later taken off, will the wudhu remain entact even after the socks have been removed?
According to the scholars, taking off the socks does not break the wudhu, so if someone wipes the socks while performing wudhu and has to remove the socks for any reason, there is no need to wash the feet or perform wudhu again. Among the right Salaf, Imam Ibrahim Nakhai, Imam Hasan Basri, Imam Ata, Abu al-Aliyyah, Qatadah and Sulaiman bin Harb (May Allah Ta’ala have mercy on them) follow this ruling[1].
- According to Shariah, wudhu is not nullified upon taking off the socks. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:
عن عَبَّادِ بْنِ تَمِيمٍ، عَنْ عَمِّهِ، أَنَّهُ شَكَا إِلَى رَسُولِ اللہِﷺالرَّجُلُ الَّذِي يُخَيَّلُ إِلَيْهِ أَنَّهُ يَجِدُ الشَّيْءَ فِي الصَّلَاةِ، فَقَالَ:لَا يَنْفَتِلْ أَوْ لَا يَنْصَرِفْ حَتّٰى يَسْمَعَ صَوْتًا أَوْ يَجِدَ رِيحًا
A person who imagined to have passed wind during the prayer. Allah’s Messenger ﷺ replied: “He should not leave his prayers unless he hears sound or smells something”[2].
- The action of Caliph Rashid Bin Talib (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ)
وقد ثبت ذلك عن علي رضي الله عنه ولا يعلم له مخالف، فقد روى البيهقي والطحاوي في شرح معاني الآثار بإسناد صحيح واللفظ له عن أبي ظبيان أنه رأى علياً رضي الله عنه بال قائماً ثم دعا بماء فتوضأ ومسح على نعليه ثم دخل المسجد فخلع نعليه ثم صلى[3]
This has been proven by Hazrat Ali (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ). Imam Bayhaqi and Imam Tahawi narrated this hadith in which Abu Zhabyan states that I saw that Harat Ali (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) stood and urinated, then called for water, perform wudhu and wipe his shoes, then entered in masjid, took off his shoes and prayed.
The author Abdul Razzaq mentioned with these words:
دعا بماء فتوضأ فمسح علی نعلیه ، ثم قام فنزعهما ، وصلی الظهر[4]
Hazrat Ali (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) called for water, perform wudhu, and wiped his shoes and when iqama took place, he took off his shoes and prayed Zuhr prayer.
- There is no argument which declares taking off socks as violation of wudhu.
The period of Masah al-Khaifin for Travellers and Residents
The Prophet ﷺ has described the duration of Masah Ali Al-Khafin for the travellers and residents.
أتيتُ عائشة أسألها عن المسح على الخُفَّين، فقالت: عَلَيْكَ بِابْنِ أبِي طالب، فَسَلْهُ فإِنَّه كان يُسَافِرُ مع رسول الله -صلى الله عليه وسلم- فسألناه فقال: جَعَلَ رسول الله ﷺ ثَلَاثَةَ أَيَّامٍ وَلَيَالِيَهُنَّ للمسافر، ويوما وليلة للمُقيم
I came to ‘A’isha to ask her about wiping over the socks. She said: You better ask (‘Ali) son of Abu Talib for he used to travel with Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ). We asked him and he said: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) stipulated (the upper limit) of three days and three nights for a traveller and one day and one night for the resident[5].
Can the Masah be more than prescribed period?
Three days and three nights are allowed for a traveller who has done masah. But if the journey is difficult and long then the masah can be done for a longer period than normal period. There is a permission in this condition for a traveller (Sunan Ibn Majah).
Hazrat Uqba Bin Amir (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) came to ‘Umar bin Khattab from Egypt. ‘Umar said: How long has it been since you have taken off your leather socks?” He said: “From one Friday to the next.” He said: “You have acted in accordance with the Sunnah[6].
Things that Nullify the Masah
The Prophetﷺ explained the thing that void the anoint and said:
وعن صفوان بن عسال -رضي الله عنه- قال:كان النبي ﷺ يأمرنا إذا كنا سَفْرا ألا ننزع خفافنا ثلاثة أيام ولياليهن إلا من جنابة، ولكن من غائط وبول ونوم
Safwan bin Assal narrated: ‘When we were traveling, Allah’s Messengerﷺ would order us not to remove our socks for three days and nights, except for janabah (sexual impurity), but not for defecating, urinating, and sleep[7].
In case of janabat, it is necessary to take off socks, but after urinating and sleeping masah suffices.
When can the time for masah start?
Someone performed a Wudhu and for Zuhr prayer then put on socks, he performed the Zuhr prayer then Asr prayer with the same Wudhu. After Asr his Wudhu was broken. Then he performs Wudhu and anoint, so it is allowed for him to anoint until the next day[8].
Method of Doing Masah:
The method of doing masah over the socks is that the person should wet the fingers of both hands and start with toes, then wipe soles of the feet, wipe the right foot with right hand and left with left hand[9].
Here we have addressed the issue of the wudhu after masah was done and whether it remain entact of not. Hopefully, it has been clarified for you.
[1] Al-Awsat Laban al-Manzar: 1/119
[2] Sahih Al Bukhari: 137 and Muslim: 361
[3] Abd al-Razzaq in the authorship of Burqam: 784
[4] Author Abdul Razzaq Barkam: 784
[5] Sahih Muslim 276
[6] Sunan Ibne Majah: 558
[7] Jami` at-Tirmidhi: 96
[8] Al-Majmoo by Nawi: 4871
[9] Al-Mukhs al-Fiqhi by Sheikh Saleh Al-Fawzan: 1/43
