What is the ruling if a man wears more than one sock when wiping over them?
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The questioner : If he wears more than one sock, the ruling applies to the outermost one, such that if the outermost one is removed, the ruling is lifted?
The Shaykh : Yes, if he wears two or more socks, and he puts on the second one before breaking his wudu, he has the choice between wiping the outer one or the one underneath it. However, once he wipes one of them, the ruling becomes attached to it.
The questioner : The first time, meaning the first wipe?
The Shaykh : Yes, if he wipes one of them for the first time, the ruling becomes attached to it. So if he removes it after wiping it, he must remove the second one when performing wudu in order to wash his feet. Some scholars said: If he wears two socks and wipes the outer one, then removes it, he may wipe the second one as long as the time period remains, because these two socks become like one sock. It is as if he had a sock with a lining and an outer layer, and he wiped the outer layer, then the outer layer tore or came off; in that case, he wipes the lining because the sock is one. These scholars, may Allah have mercy on them, said: The two worn socks are as if they are one sock. But the more cautious view is what I mentioned earlier, which is that if he wipes the outer sock and then takes it off, he must remove the one underneath it. Based on this, we say: If a man wears socks and a knicker (a type of sock) over his stockings and wipes over the knicker, then if he removes the knicker after wiping it, he does not wipe over it again. Rather, it is obligatory for him to remove it when performing wudu and remove the socks to wash his feet, except according to the second opinion I referred to. But the more cautious view is the first opinion, which is the well-known position in the madhhab of Imam Ahmad.
The questioner : May Allah reward you with good.
The Shaykh : Yes, if he wears two or more socks, and he puts on the second one before breaking his wudu, he has the choice between wiping the outer one or the one underneath it. However, once he wipes one of them, the ruling becomes attached to it.
The questioner : The first time, meaning the first wipe?
The Shaykh : Yes, if he wipes one of them for the first time, the ruling becomes attached to it. So if he removes it after wiping it, he must remove the second one when performing wudu in order to wash his feet. Some scholars said: If he wears two socks and wipes the outer one, then removes it, he may wipe the second one as long as the time period remains, because these two socks become like one sock. It is as if he had a sock with a lining and an outer layer, and he wiped the outer layer, then the outer layer tore or came off; in that case, he wipes the lining because the sock is one. These scholars, may Allah have mercy on them, said: The two worn socks are as if they are one sock. But the more cautious view is what I mentioned earlier, which is that if he wipes the outer sock and then takes it off, he must remove the one underneath it. Based on this, we say: If a man wears socks and a knicker (a type of sock) over his stockings and wipes over the knicker, then if he removes the knicker after wiping it, he does not wipe over it again. Rather, it is obligatory for him to remove it when performing wudu and remove the socks to wash his feet, except according to the second opinion I referred to. But the more cautious view is the first opinion, which is the well-known position in the madhhab of Imam Ahmad.
The questioner : May Allah reward you with good.