Do I Have to Repeat My Prayers After Wiping Over Regular Socks?
Hanafi Fiqh
Answered by Ustadh Sufyan Qufi
Question
I just recently found out that the Hanafi madhab does not count mash over regular socks as a valid wudhu.
I, however, have prayed many prayers by doing mash over regular socks since before that, I found one Hanafi scholar who said that such a wudu would be valid.
Do I need to repeat all the prayers prayed with this invalid wudu?
Answer
In the name of Allah, the Most Compassionate, Most Merciful,
No, you don’t need to repeat your prayers as many socks are valid for wiping, even according to the Hanafi school, as long as you are not sure that water has reached your feet during the wiping. [Ibn ‘Abidin, Radd al-Muhtar]
It is permitted to wipe over thick socks which fulfill the conditions of valid footgear (khuffs).
Conditions
The most important of these conditions are:
The ability to walk 3.5 miles in them without tearing;
Thickness such that water doesn’t penetrate the foot upon wiping with a wet hand.
On the other hand, if you are sure that water will reach your skin each time you are wiping over your socks, then you will have to make up those prayers.
The basis For This Answer
The above is because the basis for the acts of worship of a believer is validity. [Burnu, Mawsu’a Al Qawa’id al Fiqhya]
This is because believers, because of their faith, won’t engage in an unsound act of worship and because it is a duty to have a good opinion of them.
Allah, Most High, says: “O believers! Avoid many suspicions, ˹for˺ indeed, some suspicions are sinful.” [Quran, 49:12]
And Allah knows best.
[Ustadh] Sufyan Qufi
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
Ustadh Sufyan Qufi is an advanced seeker of knowledge, originally from Algeria, who grew up in France. He began searching for ways to learn Islam reliably and was disappointed at the answers he found locally.
Then he connected with various traditional teachers and gradually connected with SeekersGuidance. He embarked on his journey of learning through the various teachers at SeekersGuidance, including his mentor Shaykh Faraz Rabbani.
He studied numerous texts in Islamic Law, Theology, Hadith, and other areas with Shaykh Faraz Rabbani and other teachers, including Shaykh Abdurrahman al-Sha‘ar, Shaykh Ali Hani, and others.
He is an active instructor at SeekersGuidance and answers questions through the SeekersGuidance Answers Service.
