Wiping Over Shoes 

Answered by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Question:

Could you explain to us how the distinction is made between leather socks (khuffs) and shoes (especially ankle covering leather boots) which fulfill all the conditions of khuffs, but wiping is impermissible. Also is the wudhu made after wiping over khuffs invalidated when the khuffs are removed?

Answer:

In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

Walaikum assalam,

1. Sidi, I'm not 'Sheikh', just your brother in Islam.

2. It is permissible to wipe over ankle-covering footwear (such as boots).

3. When one removes one's footgear after wiping over them, the wiping itself is invalidated: if one was previously on wudu, one merely needs to wash one's feet, though it is superior to renew one's wudu. [`Ala’ al-Din Abidin, Hadiyya al-`Ala’iyya (Gifts of Guidance)]

And all alone gives success.

Walaikum assalam,
Faraz Rabbani.

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