Wiping over the Khuffs

Wiping over the Khuffs

AUTHOR:	Shaikh 'Abdullaah bin Saalih Al-'Ubaylaan
SOURCE:	His book As-Salaat: 29-30
PRODUCED BY:	Al-Ibaanah.com

As for what is related to wiping over the Khuffs, then that can be done as a substitute for washing the feet if they (i.e. the feet) are covered with khuffs or socks or stockings. This (ruling applies) regardless if there are found holes in them, so long as they can still be called socks and stockings and one is able to walk upon them.

But if the holes are very big, such that most of the foot is visible, then wiping over them is not permissible because their presence and the condition of the footwear in this manner is just as if one were not wearing them.

A condition for one to wipe over his footwear is that he must put them on while he is in a state of purification. This is based on the hadeeth of Al-Mugheerah bin Shu’bah (radyAllaahu ‘anhu) who said: “I was with the Prophet one day when he made wudoo, so I extended out my hands to take his khuffs. So he said: ‘Leave them, for I put them on while they were purified.’ Thereafter, he wiped over them.” [Reported by Al-Bukhaaree and Muslim]

The wiping is to be done to the top part of the khuff only, based on the hadeeth of ‘Alee (radyAllaahu ‘anhu) who said: “If the Religion were based upon opinion, it would be more befitting to wipe the bottom of the khuff than the top of it. But I saw the Messenger of Allaah (sallAllaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) wiping over the top part of his khuffs.” [Abu Dawood reported it with a sound chain of narration]

Likewise, it is not permissible for a resident to wipe over his footwear for more than one day and night. This is based on the hadeeth of ‘Alee (radyAllaahu ‘anhu) who said: “The Prophet (sallAllaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) gave three days and nights for the traveler (for wiping) and one day and night for the resident.”

The time limit for the wiping begins with the first wipe. So for example if he were to put on his khuffs (footwear) for the Fajr prayer (after having made wudoo), and not wipe over them until the time for Dhuhr prayer, then the time limit for his wiping would end the next day during the time for Dhuhr prayer. So in this case, he could wipe over his footwear five times – for Dhuhr, ‘Asr, Maghrib, ‘Ishaa and Fajr. Furthermore, he may pray whatever supererogatory prayers he wishes with this wiping up until the time of the Dhuhr prayer when he wiped his feet the day before. So then he makes wudoo (after breaking it), but this time washing his feet.

And if a person has returned to his country after traveling and there remains some time left from his day and night, then he may complete that while in his country. But if the day and the night have expired while he was wearing his khuffs, then it is upon him to remove them and wash his feet, upon just arriving. This is because the travel has finished and its rulings have come to an end. Likewise, if he were to wipe over his footwear while being a resident and then travel, then he should complete the wiping limits of a traveler.