The Ruling on Sandals and Socks After Wiping Over Them

Question:
How is wiping over sandals performed when water is unavailable?

Answer:
If there is wiping over both socks, for example: sandals over the socks, which may cover them, then if he wipes over both, there is no harm. However, when he removes his sandals, he removes the lower ones; the ruling then applies to both.
As for if he wipes the sock from under the sandal—removing the sandal and wiping over the sock, or removing the sandals and wiping the sock—the ruling applies to the sock. He may remove the sandal whenever he wishes, and the sandals whenever he wishes; because the ruling has become attached to what was wiped over, which is the sock.
Q: Should the sandals not be separate from the sock?
A: Even if they are separate, if he wipes over both, the ruling remains for both. So if he removes the sandals or removes the sandal, he removes the sock. But if he removes them and wipes over the sock, not the sandals and not the sandal, the ruling is specific to the sock, as the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) did.