Can you wipe non-leather socks in wudu?
We know it is allowed to wipe over leather socks (Khoffayn), but what about other socks? Can you wipe over socks made of linen, cotton or wool?
The issue of 'Al-Masah 'Alaa Al-Khuffayn' (wiping over the socks) has different conditions. It is a confirmed Sunnah of the Prophet (ﷺ). Leather socks were wiped, but also non-leather socks. Many of the Sahaba wiped their non-leather socks.
Imam Abu Dawud said:
"'Ali bin Abi Taalib, Ibn Mas'oud, al-Bara ibn 'Azib, Anas ibn Malik, Abu Umamah, Sahl ibn Sa'd and 'Amr ibn Huraith wiped their jawrabayn (non-leather socks). The same is also narrated about 'Umar ibn al-Khattab and Ibn 'Abbas."
[Commentary at Sunan Abu Dawud 159]
The early scholars of Islam made it clear that you can wipe other socks in addition to the Khoffayn. For example, they also had socks made of cotton.
Thus, according to the pious predecessors of Islam, it is permissible to wipe other socks as long as they are thick. It is therefore not possible to wipe over thin cotton, linen or woolen socks.
The socks must be thick enough, only then it is allowed to wipe over. It was narrated by Imam Tirmidhi that this is the opinion of Imam Ahmad, Imam Shafi'i, Sufyan al-Thawri, Ibn al-Mubarak and others.
Imam Tirmidhi said:
"It is the opinion of more than one of the scholars. It was said by Sufyan al-Thawri, Ibn al-Mubarak, Al-Shafi'i and Ahmad. They said that one may wipe non-leather socks even if they are not worn with sandals, as long as they are thick.”
[Commentary at Sunan al-Tirmidhi 99]
It is also more suitable for women to wear thick socks. This covers the shape of the soles in and outside the prayer. Moreover, the feet of women are 'awrah in prayer and around non-mahram people.
