Chapter on Wiping over Leather Socks
The author discusses this after describing ablution because it is a ruling connected to one of the limbs washed in ablution. In this chapter, he mentions wiping over the turban, splint, head covering, and leather socks; it therefore encompasses four subjects.
Leather socks are footwear made of leather and worn on the feet. Included in their ruling are coverings worn over the feet made of linen, wool, and similar materials—indeed, anything worn on the foot that provides warmth. For this reason, the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, dispatched a detachment and instructed them to wipe over their headbands and foot coverings (1)—that is, their leather socks. They were called foot coverings because they keep the feet warm.
Wiping over leather socks is permissible by the consensus of Ahl al-Sunnah.
The Rafidah differed on this matter. For this reason, some scholars mentioned it in works of creed, due to the Rafidah’s مخالفة (opposition) to it (2), until it became one of their distinguishing marks.
(1) Reported by Ahmad, 5:277; Abu Dawud, Book of Purification, Chapter on Wiping over the Turban, no. 146; and al-Hakim, 1:169, from Rashid ibn Sad, from Thawban, who said: “The Messenger of Allah sent out a military detachment, and they were afflicted by cold. When they returned to the Messenger of Allah, he instructed them to wipe over their head-wraps and footwear.” Ahmad said: “Rashid is unlikely to have heard from Thawban, because the latter died early.” Ibn Abd al-Hadi and al-Zaylai critiqued this statement, saying: “There is reason to question this, for they stated that Rashid witnessed the Battle of Siffin alongside Muawiyah; Thawban died in 54 AH, while Rashid died in 108 AH, and Ibn Main and Abu Hatim regarded him as trustworthy ...” See Ibn Abd al-Hadi, al-Muharrar, 1:113, no. 71; Nasb al-Rayah, 1:165. Furthermore, both Thawban and Rashid were from Homs. Al-Hakim graded the hadith authentic, and al-Dhahabi concurred. Al-Dhahabi said in al-Siyar, 4:491: “Its chain of transmission is strong.”
(2) See Sharh al-Aqidah al-Tahawiyyah, 2:551, 555.