Fatwa ID: 06713
Answered by: Maulana Burhaan Rahman
Question:
I would like to know if Masah on the attached Medical Compression Socks is valid.
“Confort La chaussette | Gibaud” https://www.gibaud.com/produits/jambes/confort-la-chaussette
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Answer:
Our beloved Prophet (SAW) wiped wet hands over leather socks:
فَاتَّبَعَهُ الْمُغِيرَةُ بِإِدَاوَةٍ فِيهَا مَاءٌ، فَصَبَّ عَلَيْهِ حِينَ فَرَغَ مِنْ حَاجَتِهِ، فَتَوَضَّأَ وَمَسَحَ عَلَى الْخُفَّيْنِ
Mugheerah followed him with a tumbler containing water, and when he finished, he (Mugheerah) poured water and he performed ablution and passed wet hands over his Khuffs (socks made from fabric or leather). [Bukhari Hadeeth no: 203]
It is mentioned in Abu Dawud [Hadeeth no; 159]:
أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم تَوَضَّأَ وَمَسَحَ عَلَى الْجَوْرَبَيْنِ وَالنَّعْلَيْنِ
The Messenger of Allah (SAW) performed ablution and wiped over the stockings and shoes.
Abu Dawud further mentions:
أَنَّ الْمَعْرُوفَ عَنِ الْمُغِيرَةِ أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم مَسَحَ عَلَى الْخُفَّيْنِ . قَالَ أَبُو دَاوُدَ وَرُوِيَ هَذَا أَيْضًا عَنْ أَبِي مُوسَى الأَشْعَرِيِّ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَنَّهُ مَسَحَ عَلَى الْجَوْرَبَيْنِ . وَلَيْسَ بِالْمُتَّصِلِ وَلاَ بِالْقَوِيِّ . قَالَ أَبُو دَاوُدَ وَمَسَحَ عَلَى الْجَوْرَبَيْنِ عَلِيُّ بْنُ أَبِي طَالِبٍ وَابْنُ مَسْعُودٍ وَالْبَرَاءُ بْنُ عَازِبٍ وَأَنَسُ بْنُ مَالِكٍ وَأَبُو أُمَامَةَ وَسَهْلُ بْنُ سَعْدٍ وَعَمْرُو بْنُ حُرَيْثٍ وَرُوِيَ ذَلِكَ عَنْ عُمَرَ بْنِ الْخَطَّابِ وَابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ
Abu Dawud said: ‘Abd al-Rahman b. Mahdi did not narrate this tradition because the familiar version from al-Mughirah says that the Prophet (ﷺ) wiped over the socks.
Abu Musa al-Ash’ari has also reported: The Prophet (SAW) wiped over stockings. However, the chain of narrators of this Hadeeth is not strong.
Abu Dawud carries on:
‘Ali b. Abi Talib, Ibn Mas’ud, al-Bara’ b. ‘Aziz, Anas b. Malik, Abu Umamah, Sahl b. Sa’d and ‘Amr b. Huriath also wiped over the stockings.
From the Ahaadeeth we understand that our beloved prophet (SAW) wiped the water on thick socks and stockings (although this narration is weak)
In Badaa’i Al Sanaa’i, it mentions:
وأما المسح على الجوربين، فإن كانا مجلدين أو منعلين يجزيه بلا خلاف عند أصحابنا، وإن لم يكونا مجلدين ولا منعلين فإن كانا رقيقين يشفان الماء لا يجوز المسح عليهما بالإجماع، وإن كانا ثخينين لا يجوز
Wiping over the socks – if it were:
- Padded or thick on both sides it is fine (to wipe on them for wudhoo’) with no differentiation amongst our scholars and peers.
- Thin allowing water to seep through (you can’t wipe for wudhoo’) even if it were thick (but still allowed water to seep through).
[Badaa’i Al Sanaa’i Vol 1 page 7]
So from here, we find that according to the interpretations of the Hanafi madhab, it must be thick socks without allowing water to seep through. The socks on the website (Gibaud socks) are made of cotton and would allow water to seep through. So from this opinion, it isn’t allowed to be worn for wudhoo’ (wiping on the socks).
It should be mentioned, though, that some scholars did permit wiping over thin socks (interpreted from the Hadeeth).
Imam Nawawi mentions in Majmoo’
والجواب عن حديث المغيرة بن شعبة الذي احتج به من أباح المسح على الجورب وإن كان رقيقاً
Our companions narrated that it is permissible to wipe over the socks (as mentioned in the above Hadeeth), even if they are thin. [Majmoo’ SHarh Muhadhab Vol 1 page 498]
So there is a view from various scholars that wiping on thin socks is allowed (which doesn’t have a restriction of water seeping through).
We as Muslims should not persist in complaining and adding fuel to the fire of arguments between us when there are different opinions out there from reliable predecessors and our Imams. Allah knows who is sincere and we pray to Allah to grant us sincerity. Allah has the utmost pure knowledge.
Only Allah knows best.
Written by Maulana Burhaan Rahman
Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah
Darul Ifta Birmingham
