The Fourth Deviation from the Sunnah: The Hadith on Wiping over the Socks.

The Shaykh : Fourth, the hadith on wiping over the socks. Most schools of jurisprudence do not accept the hadith on wiping over the socks. And those among them that do accept the hadith on wiping over the socks stipulate that the socks must be thick, that they must be dense, and that they must grip the leg such that they do not slip down. The intent behind such conditions is to nullify the practice of this hadith. Practically speaking, these conditions are like a common joke. It is like what a host says to his guest: "Eat, but do not get full," or "It is divided, but do not divide it," or "It is divided, do not eat." Its meaning is: stay as you are. When these conditions are applied to wiping over the socks, their meaning is: do not wipe over the socks. Why? Because it is extremely difficult for these conditions to be met. Meanwhile, the Wise Lawgiver, when He legislated for Muslims wiping over the socks, did not impose any condition whatsoever, except what is known regarding wiping over leather socks: one day and night for the resident, and three days and nights for the traveler.