Shuraih b. Hani' said, “I asked ‘Ali b. Abu Talib about wiping over the shoes and he replied that God’s messenger had appointed three days and nights as the period when a traveller may do it and one day and night as the period for one who is not travelling.” Muslim transmitted it.
Purification - Mishkat al-Masabih 517
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. All praise is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and may peace and blessings be upon His final Messenger Muhammad.
Textual Analysis
This noble hadith transmitted by Imam Muslim establishes the permissibility of wiping over leather socks (khuffayn) during ablution, which constitutes a divine concession (rukhṣah) from the Merciful Lord to ease the performance of purification for His servants.
The query came from Shuraih b. Hani' to the Commander of the Faithful 'Ali b. Abi Talib (may Allah be pleased with him), demonstrating the Companions' meticulous adherence to proper Islamic practice and their seeking knowledge from those most knowledgeable.
Legal Rulings and Duration
The Prophet (peace be upon him) established distinct durations: three days and nights for the traveler (musafir) and one day and night for the resident (muqim). This differentiation reflects the Shari'ah's wisdom in accommodating varying circumstances while maintaining the spirit of purification.
The time period commences from the first wiping after breaking one's ablution, not from when the socks were initially worn. This ruling is based on scholarly consensus and proper understanding of the prophetic tradition.
Conditions and Methodology
For this concession to apply, the leather socks must be worn after completing a valid ablution, must cover the entire area required for washing in ablution, and must be pure and capable of withstanding normal walking.
The wiping is performed on the upper surface of the socks with wet hands, similar to wiping over the head during ablution. This act suffices as a substitute for washing the feet, by the consensus of the rightly-guided scholars.
Divine Wisdom
This concession demonstrates Allah's mercy and the practicality of Islamic law. It alleviates hardship, especially during travel or cold weather when removing footwear would cause discomfort. Such rulings exemplify how Islam balances spiritual purity with physical ease, making worship accessible in all circumstances.
May Allah grant us understanding of His religion and enable us to follow the Sunnah with wisdom and devotion. All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of the worlds.