Question: Does the ruling on wiping over leather socks (khuffayn) apply to socks made of cotton, wool, or modern nylon? What are the conditions for wiping over leather socks, and is it permissible to pray while wearing shoes?
Answer: It is permissible to wipe over pure and covering socks, just as it is permissible to wipe over leather socks (khuffayn), based on the evidence that the Prophet (peace be upon him) wiped over socks and sandals. It is also authentically reported that a group of the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) wiped over their socks.
The difference between socks and leather socks (khuffayn) is that leather socks are made of leather, while socks are made of cotton or similar materials.
The conditions for wiping over leather socks and regular socks are as follows:
They must cover the area that is required to be washed during ablution.
They must be worn while in a state of purity.
The wiping is valid for one day and one night for a resident, and three days and nights for a traveler, starting from the time of wiping after breaking the ablution, according to the authentic hadiths on this matter.
It is permissible to pray while wearing clean shoes that are free of impurities, as the Prophet (peace be upon him) prayed in his shoes. This is agreed upon as authentic. Additionally, in the hadith of Abu Sa'id (may Allah be pleased with him), the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "When one of you comes to the mosque, let him turn over his shoes, and if he finds any impurity on them, let him wipe it off and then pray in them." This was narrated by Ahmad and Abu Dawood with a sound chain.
However, if the mosque is carpeted, it is better to place the shoes in an appropriate area or to place one over the other between the knees to avoid soiling the carpets for other worshippers.
And Allah is the source of success. [1]
Published in Al-Da'wah magazine, issue no. 948, dated 26/9/1404 AH. Also included in the book Al-Da'wah (Fatwas) by His Eminence, volume 2, pp. 62-63 (Majmoo' Fatawa wa Maqalat Sheikh Ibn Baz, 10/110).