Al-Masah: Wiping over Al-Khuffs (Leather Socks) and Al-Jaba’ir (Bandages)
Al-Khuffs (Leather Socks)
and Al-Jaba’ir (Bandages) (Click Here To Download PDF)
Its Legislation
Al-Masah or wiping over the leather socks and their like is legislated in the Book, and by the Sunnah. As for the Book, one may read His saying: [(wipe over) your feet]
So, the reading of “your feet” is connected to “wipe over” thereby making Masah legitimate.
As for the Sunnah, the Messenger of Allah (SAW) said:
“If anyone of you performed ablution, then put on his khuffs, let him wipe over them, and let him not take them off unless he is in a state of Janabah,” (Ad Daraqutni, and Al-Hakim who said it is Sahih)
As for the duration of time, it is not unrestricted as mentioned in an upcoming Hadith.
As for the legislation of Masah over bandages, it is confirmed in His (SAW) saying about a man who had a head wound, washed his head and then died: “It was sufficient for him to perform Tayammum, to tie a band around his wound and pass his wet hands on it (on the band), then pour the water on his body,” (Abu Dawud, and many of the people of knowledge act upon it)
Conditions for Al-Masah The following are the conditions for the validity of wiping over the Khuffs:
1. That they are worn over when is already in a state of purity. When Al-Mughirah bin Shu’bah wanted to help the Messenger of Allah (SAW) by removing His Khuffs for Him to wash His feet (for ablution) He said to him :
“Leave them, since I put them in while they were both in a state of purity.” (Agreed upon)
2. They should completely cover the feet.
3. They should be thick enough to not reveal what is beneath them.
4. That the duration of wiping does not continue longer than a day and a night for the resident, and not longer than three days and nights for the traveler. This is due to the saying of ‘Ali, may Allah be pleased with him: “The Messenger of Allah (SAW) has appointed three days for the traveler and one day for the resident.” (Muslim)
5. That they are not removed after wiping over them, if they are removed it becomes necessary to wash the feet, or the ablution will be invalid.
6. As for wiping over bandages, there is no condition of purity for them, nor a fixed length of time. The only condition is that the bandages should not cover more than the injured area, except what is necessary to affix them, and that they are not removed from their location, and that the injury has not healed. If the bandages fall off, or the wound heals, then the Masah becomes invalid, and the area must be washed. 1]
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[1] _It is necessary for the editors to note that mere falling off bandages does not require
Two Important Notes
1. It is permissible to wipe over the ‘Imamah [1] while travelling or during cold weather. This is due to the narration with Muslim: “The Messenger of Allah (SAW) performed ablution while traveling and wiped over his forehead and on the ‘Imamah.”
While wiping over the ‘Imamah one also wipes some of the forehead as mentioned in the Hadith.
2. There is no difference between a man and a woman regarding wiping over Khuffs, bandages and head coverings like the ‘Imamah. What is allowed for the man is allowed for the woman, they are one and the same.
How to Perform Al-Masah
After wetting the hands, he puts the palm of the left hand under the heel, and the palm of the right hand on the tip of the toes. Then he passes his right hand towards the upper part of his leg, and his left hand towards the tips of his toes. If he passes his hand on the upper part of the Khuffs, and not under them it is sufficient because of the saying of ‘Ali, may Allah be pleased with him, “Had the (commandments) of the religion been based on opinions, the lower part of the Khuffs would have been more worthy of wiping than the upper part.”
(Abu Dawud with a Hasan chain of narration)
As for Al-Masah over bandages, one wets his hand and wipes over the area only once.
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that a wound must be washed. For if a bandage is placed over a real wound, and one wipes
over it for ablution, then it falls off, and one replaces it, then when he replaces it, he is back to the same situation he was in the beginning. That is, he performs ablution and wipes over the bandages, it is not required for him to wash the wound since washing the wound is what such wiping was legislated to prevent.
[1] That is the head covering that covers the cap. It is not restricted to the “turban,” as it is often translated.