The Ruling on When the Period for Wiping over Leather Socks Begins

Question:
Honorable Shaykh, does the period for wiping over the socks begin from the moment the state of ritual impurity occurs, or from the moment of the first wiping? May Allah grant you good.

Answer:
The school of thought holds that it begins from the state of ritual impurity after putting on the socks. The school, as found in *al-Zad* and other books of the school, holds that it begins from the state of ritual impurity after putting them on. They say this because the state of ritual impurity is the cause of the wiping, so the period begins from the existence of the cause. The second opinion is that it begins from the first wiping after the state of ritual impurity, and this is the correct view, based on the saying of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) "for nights," so the ruling is tied to the wiping. This is the correct view: that it begins from the first wiping. So suppose a man performed ablution, washed his feet, then put on the socks after hearing the call to prayer, but he remained in that state of purity and his ablution did not break, and he did not wipe until twenty-four hours later, after a day. Did the period start? No, the period has not started yet. The period has not started yet until he breaks his ablution and wipes over the socks. Then the period begins. Suppose he performed ablution for the Fajr prayer, washed his feet, put on the socks, and prayed Fajr. He remained in his state of purity. When the time for Zuhr came, when the time for 'Asr came, when the time for Maghrib came, when he prayed 'Isha' with the ablution of Fajr. He prayed 'Isha' with the ablution of Fajr. We say the period for wiping has not started yet until this ablution breaks and he wipes after it. Yes.