WIPING OVER KHUFFAYN OR JAWRABAYN

 FAJR REMINDER: WIPING OVER KHUFFAYN OR JAWRABAYN

By: Umm Affān

Rabī' Al-Awwal 22, 1448 (4-September-2026)

Alḥamdulillāh for the blessing of Islām. Among the many beauties of Islām is the ease that Allāh has placed in acts of worship. Our Sharī‘ah does not place unnecessary hardship upon us; rather, it provides concessions when appropriate. A profound example of this ease is Masḥ (wiping) over Khuffayn or Jawrabayn—leather socks or regular socks. This is an established Sunnah of the Prophet (ﷺ). 

The following are some of the conditions for wiping over leather or regular socks:

1. The socks must be worn while in a state of ritual purity

The socks must be put on after performing Wuḍū’ and while one is in a state of purity. Al-Mughīrah Ibn Shu‘bah (Raḍiyallāhu ‘Anhu) narrated: “I was with the Prophet (ﷺ) on a journey. I bent down to remove his leather socks, so he said: ‘Leave them, for I put them on while I was in a state of purity.’ Then he wiped over them.” [Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 206, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 274]

This shows that the Prophet (ﷺ) put on his Khuffayn after being in a state of purity, and when he later performed Wuḍū’, he wiped over them rather than removing them.

2. The socks must be pure

The socks being wiped over must be free from Najāsah (filth). One should therefore ensure that the socks are clean and suitable for use during Ṣalāh.

3. The socks must cover the area that is required to be washed 

The socks should cover the entire foot up to the ankles, which is the area that would ordinarily have to be washed during Wuḍū’. It is also said that the socks can be sufficiently thick such that the skin beneath them cannot be seen.

4. Wiping must be within the period specified by the Sharī‘ah

The concession of wiping over the socks is limited to a specified period. For a resident, the period is one day and one night (24 hours), while for a traveler, it is three days and their nights (72 hours). This concession is established in the Sunnah and is from the ease that Allāh has granted His servants.

How To Wipe Over The Socks

The method of wiping over the socks is simple. Wet your fingers with water and place them on the top of the sock at the toes. Then pass your fingers upwards from the toes towards the shin. The right foot is wiped with the right hand, and the left foot with the left hand.

Notably, only the top of the sock should be wiped—not the sole, the sides, or the back. Also, one wipe is sufficient. ‘Abd Khayr reported: ‘Alī Ibn Abī Ṭālib (Raḍiyallāhu ‘Anhu) said, “If the religion were based upon one’s opinion, one might expect the bottom of the leather sock to be wiped instead of the top. I have seen the Messenger of Allāh (ﷺ) wiping over the upper part of his leather socks.” [Sunan Abī Dāwūd 162]

Subḥānallāh! This statement beautifully demonstrates the importance of following the Sunnah rather than relying merely on personal reasoning.

The following things nullify the permissibility of wiping over the socks:

• The expiration of the permitted period.

• Entering a state that necessitates Ghusl.

• Taking off one or both of the socks.

What a tremendous ease Allāh has granted His servants! These concessions remind us that Islām is a religion of mercy and ease. When we learn the Sunnah and strive to follow it correctly, we discover many forms of ease that Allāh has placed within our worship.

I beseech Allāh (ﷻ) to make us among those who love the Sunnah, learn it, truly practice it, and hold firmly to it. Aameen