Wiping Over Socks at Work-Place in Wudu
...The thing is I have to remove my socks and shoes every time I make wudu’. I heard that it’s not necessary to remove socks for wudu’. Well, I'm not sure about that and its procedure. So, if there is any alternative to this, then, please, enlightenment me on this. Jazaka Allah khair.
As-salamu `alaykum. I work in a software company where the dress code is business formal. So, it’s compulsory to wear shoes. The thing is I have to remove my socks and shoes every time I make wudu’. I heard that it’s not necessary to remove socks for wudu’. Well, I'm not sure about that and its procedure. So, if there is any alternative to this, then, please, enlightenment me on this. Jazaka Allah khair.
By Sheikh Ahmad Kutty
Dear brother, let us first commend your question which expresses your strong passion to Islam ant its rituals, especially prayer, the second pillar of Islam.
It should be known that prayer is the only act of worship from which a Muslim is never exempted under any condition as long as he/she is alive.
In your case, you are allowed to wipe on your socks for a whole day and night (five prayers) if you are a resident, and three days and nights if you are a traveler.
In his response to your question, Sheikh Ahmad Kutty, a senior lecturer and an Islamic scholar at the Islamic Institute of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, states.
You may wipe over socks for twenty four hours as long as you fulfill certain conditions:
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.
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