Why Muslims Wipe Over Their Shoes in Wudu
Wiping Over Footwear (Al-Massah Ala Al-Khuffain) - Rulings and Scholarly Consensus
Summary
This lecture from al-Wajeez begins a new chapter on al-massah ala al-khuffain wa al-jawrabain (wiping over footwear during wudu). Sh. Ali Mashhour explains the types of footwear worn in the Prophet's time—including khuffain (leather moccasin-like coverings), sandals, shoes, and socks—and clarifies that while wiping is commonly associated with khuffain, it applies to any footwear worn on the feet. The instructor establishes scholarly consensus (ijma) as the third evidence in Islamic jurisprudence, noting that An-Nawawi documents unanimous agreement among Sunni scholars that wiping over footwear is permissible for both travelers and residents, men and women, regardless of necessity. The lecture cites a tawatur (highest authenticity level) report from Anas ibn Malik that 70 Companions narrated the Prophet's consistent practice of wiping over his footwear.
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So, this morning, today we will begin a new chapter in al-Wajeez following the chapters of wudu and it is a a part of the chapters of wudu. And that is the topic and the rulings regarding al massah.
[Arabic recitation]
Ala ma yalbasuhu al abdu ala qadamaihi And that is wiping over the footwear. Now, usually this chapter is referred to and this ruling is referred to amongst the fuqaha as al massah ala al khuffain wiping over the leather footwear. It's not even correct to call them socks cuz they're not really socks. They take the place of shoes. Al khuff, as we will go into good detail inshallah is something that is not worn with shoes. It is worn instead of shoes. But usually this chapter is referred to al massah ala al khuffain and specifically this type of footwear because that was what was most common in the prophet's time, sallallahu alayhi wa sallam. In his time they had pretty much everything that we have now. Not a lot has changed as far as that is concerned. Yes, the materials have changed. arguably the quality has changed, but general basics of footwear are the same. They had sandals. They had leather hide, more moccasins. If you know what moccasins are, moccasins are kind of leather almost leather socks, but you know, Native Americans are depicted as wearing moccasins. They don't have a separate sole on them. They do not have a sole. The sole is part of the same material that the rest of the footwear is made out of. And so, they had sandals. They had al-khuffayn. They had an-ni'al, which are shoes, and those are defined as having a a sole and a a kind of thick sole on the bottom, usually made out of tanned heavy leather, right? Et cetera. And they had socks, al-jawarib. They had socks. They even had cotton socks, socks made out of cotton specifically. And so, not a lot has changed in that regard. But, usually when we look at the narrations regarding wiping over the footwear and what it is they were most usually wiping over, it's usually al-khuffayn, cuz that is what the Arabs most usually wore at that time. they had all of these other types of footwear, but what would be most commonplace, right, is al-khuffayn. And so, the topic is usually referred to as an-nasah alal-khuffayn, but it doesn't mean that an-nasah is only on al-khuffayn. An-nasah can take place on anything that is worn on the feet, as we will hear, inshallahu ta'ala. Yubtadi'u al-mu'allif bi dhikri tarafin min kalam al-hafidh.
[Arabic recitation]
Those who are considered when documenting consensus, scholarly consensus. What is consensus? Ijma. Ijma is the third of the four evidences in Islam. There are four evidences in Islam. Number one is the Quoran, number two is the Sunnah, number three is Ijma. Number four is Al Qiyas. These are the evidences in Islam. Now, those who are considered for scholarly consensus, meaning if there is no documented difference of opinion amongst any scholars with respect to a particular statement or belief or ruling, then this is considered what? It's considered an evidence to say this is something that has been agreed upon. It has been agreed upon.
[Arabic recitation]
Opinion that there is no difference amongst any of the scholars of Islam, those who are counted when looking to document Al Ijma, when looking to document consensus, scholarly consensus. Now, what does that mean? Our prophet Sallallahu alayhi wasallam tells us let tajtami'u ummati ala dalalah. He says, "My nation, my ummah, will never agree unanimously upon a misguidance." So, if the ummah agrees, the scholars agree unanimously and none of them opposes a particular opinion, this is considered consensus and consensus is one of the four evidences in Islam. An-Nawawi, rahimahullah, he tells us that it is a matter of consensus amongst the scholars of Ahlus Sunnah that it is permissible to wipe over the khuffain, the leather footwear, whether a person is in travel or a person is a resident, whether a person needs to do so or a person chooses to do so. Whether a person is needing to do so because they're traveling or because it's difficult to make wudu and wash their feet or if they don't need to. Just because they choose to. He says it's even permissible for a woman to wipe over her leather footwear even if she's not leaving her home. Or even someone who is unable to walk, for instance, or etc. If they have leather footwear on, they are permitted to wipe over their leather footwear, their khuffaf. The only groups which were documented to have differed with this consensus are the Khawarij and the Shi'a. The Khawarij and the Shi'a. And neither of these two innovative groups are considered when documenting consensus. Cuz they differ on a lot of stuff, right? They differ on things that they differ Certain groups of the Khawarij differ on the five daily prayers, for instance. S- Certain groups of the Shi'a, of the Rafidah, differ on on whether or not Aisha radiyallahu anha is guilty or innocent of what she was accused of. These people, their difference of opinion does not count because they have gone so far off the middle balanced and beaten path that their extremist views on things makes their excludes them from having an opinion with respect to consensus.
[Silence]
The great Imam and scholar of Al-Basra and one of the seven original he says, "I have been told directly by 70 of the Messenger of Allah's companions, 70 of them. 70 of the Messenger of Allah's companions have told me that it is the that the Messenger of Allah used to consistently wipe over his footwear. 70. So, this is what is 70? 70, 80, 50, this is what we call a tawatur. And a tawatur is the highest level of authenticity with respect to a narration when we look at the sheer amount of narrators. From the aspect of the sheer amount of narrators, a tawatur is the highest order and highest level of authenticity. We will take a stop there and we'll continue this tomorrow inshallah. Let's ask Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala.
[Arabic recitation]
Who imagine now when you are now be now imagine now mean who are now or are now what are now or are now or are now mean who or mean who are now or are now or are now or mean who are now or are now or.