Fatwa ID: 05891

Answered by: Maulana Burhaan Rahman

Question:

In the conditions for the socks that can be used to do masah on – we have that we should be able to walk in them for 3 to 4 miles. What does this mean? Does this mean on concrete or carpets or sand or rocky? Can you please explain this condition in detail with the books from Hanafi fiqh – did all Hanafi scholars have this condition. 

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

Answer:

Ja`far bin `Amr bin Umaiya Ad-Damri mentioned that, “my father said, I saw Rasulullah passing wet hands over his Khuffs (socks made from leather).” [Bukhari]

It mentions in Rad Al-Muhtar Ala Dur Al-Mukhtar it mentions:

( كونه مما يمكن متابعة المشي ) المعتاد ( فيه ) فرسخا فأكثر

( قوله المشي المعتاد ) بأن لا يكون في غاية السرعة ولا في غاية البطء ، بل يكون وسطا . ونظيره ما قالوه في السير المعتاد … ( قوله فرسخا فأكثر ) تقدم أن الفرسخ ثلاثة أميال أي: اثنا عشر ألف خطوة.

(It has to be such that you are able to walk on it)

(The usual walk means): that it is neither too fast nor too slow, but rather to be in the middle. The equivalent of this is to be able to have a “standard pace (walk normally)” for a length of a farsakh. (Farsakh or more means): three miles or twelve thousand steps. [Rad Al-Muhtar Ala Dur Al-Mukhtar vol 1 page 263]

From here we understand that the normal walk with the leather socks shall be determined by walking on normal walking terrains without it ripping.

Only Allah knows best.

Written by Maulana Burhaan Rahman

Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham