:salam2:,
but what about this:
Jurists have placed the following conditions for the permissibility of masah:
(1) They are so thick and strong that it is possible to walk three miles in them
(2) They remain on the shin without being tied or fastened
(3)
Water does not penetrate (seep into) the socks, thereby making the feet wet
http://www.inter-islam.org/Prohibitions/masahcottonsock.html
That seems to be one opinion. There is another (this one doesn't specify material the socks are made of):
(from
http://www.sunnahonline.com/ilm/sunnah/0036.htm )
Q3. What are the authentic, established conditions for wiping over the socks and what are their evidences?
A3. There are four conditions:
The first: that he be in a state of purity when he wore them. And the evidence for this is his sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam saying to Mughira, ‘Leave them, for indeed my feet were in a state of purity when I wore them’
The second: that the khuffs or jawaarabs be pure and clean. If they have filth on them then it is not permissible to wipe over them. And the evidence for this is that the Messenger of Allâh sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam prayed with his Companions one day in shoes, and during the prayer he removed them. Then afterwards he informed his Companions that this was because Jibreel had informed him that they had filth or dirt on them. And this indicates that the prayer is not acceptable when there is something in it which is impure, and because when the wiper wipes over the filth it sullies him also, and then he is also not in a state of purity.
The third: that he wipes over them when he is in a state of minor impurity, not when he is junub or in any state that necessitates the ghusl. And the evidence for that is the hadeeth of Safwaan bin Assaal radiallaahu 'anhu who said, “The Messenger of Allâh sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam ordered us not to remove our socks for three days and nights when we were on a journey except if we were junub, but not from excretion, urination or sleep.” So the condition is set that the wiping is only for minor impurity, not for the major impurity due to this hadeeth.
The fourth: that the wiping be for the period determined by the Sharee’ah, and that is a day and a night for one who is resident, and three days and nights for the one on a journey. This due to the hadeeth of Alee radiallaahu 'anhu who said, “the Messenger sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam set a limit of one day and night for the resident, and three days and nights for the traveler,” meaning for wiping over the khuffs. Related by Muslim. And this period starts the first time one wipes over the socks, and it finished 24 hours after for the resident and 72 hours after for the traveler.
And then there's this:
(from
http://www.islamonline.net/servlet/...h-Ask_Scholar/FatwaE/FatwaE&cid=1119503546862 )
Wa `alaykum As-Salamu wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.
In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.
Dear brother in Islam, thanks for your question, which emanates from a God-fearing heart, since it shows your commitment to Prayer, the cornerstone of Islam, and purification, which is regarded by the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) as half of the faith. We’d would like to commend your pursuit of Islamic knowledge.
As for wiping over leather socks in wudu’, while scholars are unanimous on the permissibility of wiping on leather socks,
they are divided on the permissibility of wiping on other types of socks (i.e. cotton, nylon, etc.). Authentic scholars and mujtahids like Ibn Taymiyyah have affirmed the permissibility of wiping on such socks provided they are
thick and not transparent.
In his response to the question in point, Sheikh Ahmad Kutty, a senior lecturer and Islamic scholar at the Islamic Institute of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, states:
“Wiping with wet hands on leather socks, instead of washing the feet, is considered not only permissible when done in conformity with the prescribed conditions but also reviving a Sunnah of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). It is making use of a rukhsah (allowance) granted to us by the Law-giver and as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “Allah loves people to make use of His allowances just as He loves them to comply with His commandments.”
The permissibility of wiping on leather socks is agreed upon unanimously by all of the Ahl as-Sunnah wa al-Jama`ah (mainstream Muslims). That is why it has been enumerated as a matter of creed in the book called ‘Aqidah by Imam Abu Ja`far at-Tahawi — a work that sums up all of the creedal points unanimously accepted by the Ahl as-Sunnah wa al-Jama`ah.
However, while scholars are unanimous on the permissibility of wiping on leather socks, they are divided on the permissibility of wiping on other types of socks (i.e., cotton, nylon, etc.). Some scholars have affirmed the permissibility of wiping on such socks provided that they are thick and not transparent.
In the classical manuals of Fiqh (Islamic Jurisprudence), wiping is generally taken to be restricted to leather socks.
However, there is nothing in the sources to restrict the permission to leather only. The original intent of the permission was to bring ease and comfort; people normally wear socks, regardless of the material they are made of, in order to keep off dust and protect the feet from heat or cold. Since it is inconvenient to take them off all the time, permission was granted by the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) to wipe over them for a period of one day and night for a resident and three days and nights for a traveler.
That the permission to wipe on socks or stockings is not limited to leather is the view authenticated by great scholars and mujtahids such as Ibn Taymiyyah and others; the reasoning is quite clear. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) never stated that the permission was limited to leather socks. Therefore, the same rule can be extended to all types of socks or stockings regardless of whether they are made of leather, cotton, wool, or synthetic, so long as it is halal (permitted) material.
Coming to the specific conditions of wiping, we read in the authentic traditions: “The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) allowed wiping on leather socks three days (nights inclusive) for a traveler and one day (twenty four hours) for a resident.”
There are, however, certain conditions to be considered for the permissibility of wiping such as the following:
a) Socks or stockings must be thick and not transparent so that water does not seep through when wiped over.
b) They must cover both the upper and the lower parts of the feet up to the ankle bones.
c) They must be put on after making wudu’ (ablution) or ghusl (bathing), while one is still pure.
d) One must not take them off. If one does take them off, he must take the socks off and wash the feet completely the next time he makes wudu’.
e) Wiping must not exceed the period of one full day and night in the case of a resident and three days and nights for a traveler.
f) Finally, one must remove the socks if ghusl (bathing) becomes obligatory.
To conclude: It is permissible to wipe on leather and thick cotton, wool, nylon socks or stockings. In case of those who are working in offices or factories or campuses, it may even be better for them to make use of this allowance in Shari`ah, especially where washing feet may create undue hardships or becomes a source of undue misgivings, etc. It is best for them to put on their socks after having completed ablutions in the morning; then they can continue wiping on them during the duration of their work or absence from home for a whole day or until they return home.”
Excerpted, with slight modifications, from:
www.islam.ca
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Read more:
http://www.islamonline.net/servlet/...FatwaE/FatwaE&cid=1119503546862#ixzz0jxvL8pYr
Since nobody really wears leather socks any more unless they purchase them specifically from a Muslim merchant, this is an issue that should be a bit more clear.
