wudu and tayyamum

Wa Alaykum As-Salaam wa Rahmat Allaahi wa Barakaatuh Re: A few questions about salah and wudu' Name: Islaamic 16/4/2006(5:17) GMT Reply

1. The wiping of the socks can be done anywhere over any kind of socks, thick or thin and even if they have holes in them and it can also be done over the shoes. Proper wudoo must be made first (with washing the feet and between the toes) before the socks and shoes are put on, and the socks and shoes must be worn in a state of wudoo. This is from the Hadith of Al-Mugheerah (Rady Allaahu 'anhu) who said that; "The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) did wudoo’ and wiped over his socks and shoes."

Scenarios:

a). You make wudoo, then put on socks and shoes. You have not at anytime removed your socks and shoes since your original wudoo, however you broke your wudoo. You can simply wipe over your shoes in this case.

b). You make wudoo, then put on socks and shoes. You break your wudoo at sometime, and after breaking your wudoo, you had to remove your shoes for whatever reason before you could renew your wudoo. You can no longer wipe over your shoes, however you can still wipe over your socks because at no time did you remove them since your original wudoo.

Note: If after the above scenario "b)" you put your shoes on again after wiping your socks, then there is a difference of opinion among the scholars if you can wipe
over the shoes after this. Some say no because it is a "lesser tahaarah" since you only wiped the socks, however others say that you may wipe over the shoes again because the shoes were put on in a state of tahaarah, and that "lesser tahaarah" is not an acceptable view. This second view is perhaps the most correct and most sound to follow.

c). You make wudoo, then put on socks and shoes. You break your wudoo at sometime and after breaking your wudoo, you had to remove both your shoes and your socks for whatever reason before you could renew your wudoo. In this case you must make wudoo by washing your feet and between the toes again.

d). You make wudoo, then put on socks and shoes. At no time do you break your wudoo, however you take your shoes and socks off, and later put them on without having broken your wudoo in between. You then put your socks and shoes back on. You may wipe over them.

- The ruling for wiping over the socks is that it can be done for a period of 24 hours for one who is not travelling. This means 24 hours after your first wiping of
the socks. After 24 hours of wiping, you must make proper wudoo before wiping again. For travellers, they may wipe for up to 3 days and 3 nights as per the Hadith of Allaah's Messenger (Sal-Allaahu Alayhi wa Sallam).

Some of the greatest scholars have stated that it is better to wipe over the socks if one wears them rather than removing them and washing the feet because of the Hadith when Al-Mugheerah (Rady Allaahu 'anhu) saw the Prophet making wudoo, he wanted to remove the Prophet's khuffayn for him, however the Prophet (Sal-Allaahu Alayhi wa Sallam) said; "Leave them, for I put them on when they (my feet) were in a state of purity."

The correct way to wipe is to place our wet fingers on the foot along our toes, then wipe up the top of the foot to the shin. We should wipe the right foot with the right hand and left foot with the left hand, and preferrably doing this at the same time, however if this is not possible then begin with the right foot. ONLY the top of the foot should be wiped and it should be only one wipe. Also, one cannot wipe over shoes or socks which have naajis on them.

2. Praying with the shoes on is permissible unless they have naajis on them because the Prophet of Allaah (Sal-Allaahu Alayhi wa Sallam) prayed with his shoes on, and
removed his shoes when he knew that they had some naajis on them. In an authentic Hadith, he (Sal-Allaahu Alayhi wa Sallam) stated: "When any one of you comes to the mosque, let him look at his shoes, and if he sees any dirt on them, let him wipe them. And they can be purified with dust."

There is also another authentic narration from a Sahaabi who said; "I saw the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) praying both barefoot and wearing shoes." Anas ibn Maalik (Rady Allaahu 'anhu) was asked if the Prophet (Sal-Allaahu Alayhi wa Sallam) prayed with shoes on and he replied "yes". In fact, it can be said that it is better to pray with shoes or khufoof/slippers
because of the authentic Hadith where he (Sal-Allaahu Alayhi wa Sallam) stated: "Be different from the Jews, pray wearing your slippers or shoes.". Today however, the issue is that the Masaajid have carpets in them, and carpets are not like dirt or pebbles, they are a furnishing and a Waqf and can collect dirt. However khufoof or slippers can still be worn inshaa Allaah and this is better.

3. Those who see this issue as "irrelevant" or "unworthy" need to seriously rethink their stance. This is an issue of utmost importance and relevance because it deals with As-Salaah and the validity of As-Salaah. In any case bro, you are correct wa Jazaak Allaahu khayr, that both the forehead AND the nose MUST touch the ground for the Sajdah and hence the Salaah to be valid. One who neglects to touch both the
forehead and nose on the ground in Sajdah, their Sajdah, and hence their Salaah is invalid, may Allaah Protect us. An important note on this for brothers who wear kuffi/topi caps or turbans; skin of the forehead must touch the ground. Also, both knees, both palms and fingers of both hands and also the bottoms of the toes of both feet must be touching the ground for the Sajdah and hence the Salaah to be valid. When in Sajdah, the feet should be put together and the bottom of the feet should be facing opposite of the Qiblah.

Allaah Knows Best and I hope this helped bro.

As-Salaamu Alaykum wa Rahmat Allaahi wa Barakaatuh.