Chapter: Wiping over the Leather Socks
Introduction
Linguistically, masḥ (wiping) means to pass the hand over something.
In the legal sense, it is the contact of a hand moistened with water with a specific barrier, within a specific time frame.

Linguistically, a khuff (with ḍamma on the khāʾ and shadda on the fāʾ) is one of the light leather coverings worn on the foot; it is so called because of its lightness.
Legally, it is any covering that conceals both feet up to and including the ankles—or higher—whether made of leather or another material.

This topic is mentioned after the discussion of wuḍūʾ (ablution) because wiping over the khuff substitutes for washing what lies beneath it.

Wiping is a rukhsah (dispensation).
Linguistically, rukhsah means ease or facilitation in a matter.
Legally, it is a ruling established contrary to another legal proof because of a stronger opposing proof.

The Prophet ﷺ said, “Allah loves that His dispensations be taken.” [Narrated by Ibn Khuzaymah (3/259) and Ibn Ḥibbān (8/333)].

The permissibility of wiping is confirmed by mutawātir (mass-transmitted) hadiths.
Al-Ḥasan al-Baṣrī said, “Seventy Companions of the Prophet ﷺ told me that he ﷺ wiped over his leather socks.”
Imām Aḥmad stated, “I have no doubt whatsoever about the legitimacy of wiping; there are forty—"