Saturday 18 Rabi‘ al-awwal 1446 - 21 September 2024
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When Does the Validity of Wiping Over Socks Expire?

Question

I read that the period for wiping over the socks lasts for one day and one night for one who is not travelling, and three days and three nights for one who is travelling. When this time ends, is the person’s Wudu invalidated, or does he remain pure?

Summary of answer

The time for wiping over socks may expire but your Wudu remains valid as long as you do not perform any act that breaks it.

Answer

Praise be to Allah.

Shaykh Muhammad ibn `Uthaymin (may Allah have mercy on him) said:

The correct view is that his Wudu is not invalidated when the period for wiping over the socks comes to an end. For example, if this time ends at 12 noon, but you keep your Wudu until night time, you still have Wudu. That is because there is no evidence to suggest that Wudu is broken when the period of wiping over the socks ends.

The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) set the time limit for wiping over the socks; he did not set a time limit for Wudu. There is a principle that the seeker of knowledge should pay attention to, which is that what is proven by the Shar`i evidence cannot be invalidated without further Shar`i evidence, because what is proven remains as it is.

For more details, please see the following answers: 26343, 69829, 116409, 45788.

And Allah knows best.

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Source: Liqa’ al-Baab al-Maftooh, 44