Conditions of Wiping over Khuff and Na’l (Shoes and Slipper) during Wudhu (Ablution)

Bismillahirrahmanirrahiim

Praise be to Allah

From Safwan ibn ‘ Assal – radhiallahu anhu – he said :

كان رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يأمرنا إذا كنا سفرا أن لا ننزع خفافنا ثلاثة أيام ولياليهن إلا من جنابة ولكن من غائط وبول ونوم

” If we ‘re traveling , the Prophet sallallaahu ‘ alaihi wasallam ordered us not to open our shoes for three days and three nights except when we junub.  And still allowed for wiping shoes as defecation , urination , and sleep . ” ( Narrated by At- Tirmidhi no. 96 , An – nasai no. 127, Ibn Majah no. 471 and declared hasan by al – Albani in Al – Irwa ` no. 104 )

 Ali – radhiallahu anhu – he said :

جعل رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم ثلاثة أيام ولياليهن للمسافر ويوما وليلة للمقيم

 ” Prophet – sallallaahu ‘ alaihi wasallam – has made three days and three nights for the traveler ( for wiping khuf ) and a day and night for the people who settled ( Muqim ) . ” (Narrated by Muslim . 276 )

We are very grateful to Allah which makes it easy to implement all its Islamic Shari’a. One of which is included on the ease of Islamic law is the law of rubbed khufoof/khuf na’l instead of  washing the feet.

Khuf (shoes) is: all shoes that cover the ankle height, neither he nor any other kind of leather.

While sandals are meant here are sandals that cannot be removed except with the help of the other hand or foot. So that includes sandals shoes that do not cover the ankle, but not including her flip-flops that’s are easily opened without the help of the hands and feet of the other.

a Mosque in Cairo, Egypt by aMuslima
a Mosque in Cairo, Egypt by aMuslima

There are four condition for wiping khuff and na’l (shoes and slipper) when ablution (wudhu):

The first condition:

That they should have been put on when one was in a state of tahaarah (purity, i.e., when one has wudhu’). The evidence for that is what the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said to al-Mugheerah ibn Shu’bah: “Don’t worry, because I put them one when I was clean.” 

The second condition:

That the khufoof/khuff (leather slippers which cover the ankle) or socks should be taahir (pure). If they are naajis (impure) then it is not permissible to wipe over them. The daleel for that is that the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) led his companions in prayer one day wearing shoes, which he took off whilst he was praying. He said that Jibreel had told him that there was something dirty on them. This was narrated by Ahmad from the hadeeth of Abu Sa’eed al-Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him) in his Musnad. This indicates that it is not permissible to pray wearing anything that is naajis, because if the naajis thing is wiped over, the person will be contaminated by that najaasah (impurity), so he cannot be considered to be taahir (pure). 

The third condition:

They may be wiped over when one is purifying oneself from minor impurity (i.e., doing wudhu’ after passing wind, urine or stools), not when one is in a state of janaabah (major impurity following sexual activity) or when ghusl (washing) is required. The evidence for that is the hadith of Safwaan ibn ‘Assaal (may Allaah be pleased with him) who said: “The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) commanded us, when we were travelling, not to remove our khufoof for three days and three nights, except in the case of janaabah. But we could keep them on and wipe over them in the case of stools, urine and sleeping.” This was narrated by Ahmad from the hadith of Safwaan ibn ‘Assaal (may Allaah be pleased with him) in his Musnad. So the condition is that wiping the socks may be done when purifying oneself (doing wudhu’) from minor impurity, and it is not permissible in the case of major impurity, because of the hadeeth which we have mentioned here. 

The fourth condition:

That the wiping may be done within the time specified by shari’ah, which is one day and one night in the case of one who is not travelling, and three days and three nights in the case of one who is travelling. This is because of the hadith of ‘Ali ibn Abi Taalib (may Allaah be pleased with him) who said: “The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) stated one day and one night for the one who is not travelling, and three days and three nights for the one who is travelling, i.e., for wiping over the khufoof.” ( narrated by Muslim). This period starts from the first time one wipes over the socks when doing wudoo’ after some minor impurity, and it ends twenty-four hours later for the one who is not travelling, and seventy-two hours later for the one who is travelling.

 

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