Is It Valid to Wipe Over Footgear on One Foot Only?

Answered by Ustadh Tabraze Azam

Question: Assalam alaykum

I have recently had an ankle operation and because of this my right leg and foot are in a plaster. Currently I am wiping my right foot when performing wudu.

I have purchased a pair of khuffs and will be using them only on my left foot as my right foot has a plaster.

Is this allowed? Currently I am struggling to wash my left foot.

Answer: Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullah,

May Allah Most High grant you a swift recovery.

No, you cannot wipe over footgear (khuff) on one foot, and the plaster on the other. This is because the latter is deemed to be effectively washing, and you cannot join between wiping and washing.

Remember that you need to wipe the entire area of the foot covered by the plaster. And I’d suggest placing your other foot into a bucket of water for a few moments as you may find that easier than other forms of washing.

[Shurunbulali, Maraqi al-Falah]

And Allah Most High alone knows best.

[Ustadh] Tabraze Azam

Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Ustadh Tabraze Azam holds a BSc in Computer Science from the University of Leicester, where he also served as the President of the Islamic Society. He memorised the entire Qur’an in his hometown of Ipswich at the tender age of sixteen, and has since studied the Islamic Sciences in traditional settings in the UK, Jordan and Turkey. He is currently pursuing advanced studies in Jordan, where he is presently based with his family.