The Prophet (ﷺ) said: The time limit for wiping over the socks for a traveller is three days (and three nights) and for a resident it is one day and one night.
Abu Dawud said: Another version adds: Had we requested him to extend (the period of wiping), he would have extended.
Purification (Kitab Al-Taharah) - Sunan Abi Dawud 157
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: The time limit for wiping over the socks for a traveller is three days (and three nights) and for a resident it is one day and one night.
Abu Dawud said: Another version adds: Had we requested him to extend (the period of wiping), he would have extended.
Scholarly Commentary
This hadith establishes the legal concession (rukhṣah) of wiping over leather socks (khuffayn) during ablution, which substitutes for washing the feet. The distinction between traveler and resident demonstrates Islam's practical accommodation of different circumstances.
The three-day period for travelers reflects the recognition of their hardship and limited access to water. The one-day period for residents maintains cleanliness while providing convenience.
The additional narration mentioning potential extension indicates the Prophet's merciful nature and the flexibility inherent in Islamic law when genuine need arises, though the established periods remain the normative practice.
Scholars agree this concession applies only when socks are worn after complete ablution and remain intact, covering the required area of the foot. The wiping is performed on the upper surface of the socks during subsequent ablutions.