Wearing socks while in the state of Ihraam
Fatwa No: 105187

Question

Bukhari Volumn 001, Book 008, Hadith Number 362.Narated By Ibn 'Umar : A person asked Allah's Apostle, "What should a Muhrim wear?" He replied, "He should not wear shirts, trousers, a burnus (a hooded cloak), or clothes which are stained with saffron or Wars (a kind of perfume). Whoever does not find a sandal to wear can wear Khuffs, BUT THESE SHOULD BE CUT SHORT SO AS NOT TO COVER THE ANKLES. Bukhari Volumn 003, Book 029, Hadith Number 068.Narated By Abdullah : Allah's Apostle was asked what sort of clothes a Muhrim should wear. He replied, "He should not wear a shirt, turbans, trousers, a hooded cloak, or a dress perfumed with saffron or Wars; and if slippers are not available he can wear Khuffs but HE SHOULD CUT THEM SO THAT THEY REACH BELOW THE ANKLES. Now the Question Arises, if we are wiping over our leather socks should they be cut beneath the ankle or should we continue with the leather socks which we are getting in the market (i.e. over the ankle).

Answer

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger.

 

A person who is in the state of Ihraam for Hajj or ‘Umrah, should not wear (cloth or leather) socks if he finds slippers as proven in the narrations which you mentioned. If the person does not find slippers to wear, then it becomes permissible for him to wear socks. According to the view of the majority of the scholars he should cut the socks short to make them go below the ankles. However, if he does cut them, then he can not wipe over them when performing ablution, as stated by the jurist because they do not cover the place that one is obliged to wash which is the area of the ankles. It is known that among the conditions for the validity of wiping over the socks is that they should cover the place which one is obliged to wash.

Any person other than the one who is in the state of Ihraam for Hajj or ‘Umrah, is permitted to wear socks and he is not required to cut them below the ankles (so that they will be under the ankles). The narrations which you mentioned in the question apply to a person who is in the state of Ihraam for Hajj or ‘Umrah.

Allaah Knows best.

Related Fatwa