When you are at work, or during travel, or at school, do you run into situations where it becomes challenging to wash your feet to complete your obligatory wudhu before salah?  Wouldn’t it be nice to be able to wear something which you can easily wear over your regular shoes, is very comfortable, and still  is shariah compliant so you can perform masah over it?  Wouldn’t it be nice if this “high tech”, 100% waterproof, durable and highly breathable socks are still affordable?  

Shairah Compliant Dexshell® Masah Socks

Ø  Shariah compliant for making masah (i.e. instead of washing the feet during wudhu, it is permissible to pass moist hands over such socks, or Masah alal Khuffain).

Ø  Ankle length sock- fully covers above the ankle suitable for  warm seasons  (For optimal thermal performance during cold weather checkout Dexshell Thermlite and Hytherm socks)

Ø  Completely waterproof, highly breathable, with stretchy property to fit closely to your feet

Ø  No zippers or buttons.  No need to remove during "security checks" at airports etc.

Ø  No need for a larger size shoe

Ø  Sufficiently durable to walk a minimum of three miles without tearing*

Ø  Will entirely cover both ankles and remains on the leg without being tied or fastened

Ø  Approved by prominent international Ulema (theologians) for use as khuffs

Ø  Made from synthetic and natural fibers – no skin is used

Ø  Three layers, securely bonded together throughout-
Outer shell: 98% abrasion resistant nylon, 2% elastics, close fitting to the feet
Interlining: Porelle high performance waterproof breathable membranes, extremely waterproof highly breathable    
Inner Socks: 80% coolmax yarns, 20% nylon, moisture absorption and transfer

Ø  Developed to have the waterproof and breathable functions whilst keeping the wear comfortable by using the special construction technology and superb quality materials.  

Ø  Protects and ensures warm and dry  feet even if you are working in cold, rainy or snowy weather. With DexShell, you will experience the dry comfort!

Ø  available in black with grey cuff band

Ø  these ankle length socks are suitable for cycling, running and a wide range of outdoor activities in warm seasons

* The socks are primarily designed to be worn with shoes and may wear more quickly if not used in conjunction with outdoor footwear

The Ulema have strictly disallowed masah on regular socks and have stipulated in detail in what specific types of socks masah is permitted.    Dexshell® and Sealskinz® are the only two manufacturers of non-leather socks that we know of that meets the strict criteria over which masah can be performed.  (see fatawa of Mufti Desai).

Note: Due to hygienic issues, khuffs cannot be returned or exchanged for a different size.  Please select the desired size carefully.

CARE INSTRUCTIONS

Washing: DexShell are machine washable in cool water below 40°C, but it is highly recommended to wash by hand as a proper care will extend its life significantly.

Drying: DexShell are absolutely not suitable to be dried on any direct heat source such as a radiator, or an iron, otherwise they will delaminate-split.  The proper way to dry them after washing is to turn them inside out and hang them in a good air flowing condition to drip dry overnight.

The followings are our wash care tips:

CONSTRUCTION

DexShell waterproof socks and gloves are in three ply construction

The outer shells are the protection layers and knitted with Nylon yarns so they are not only durable but also easy to drip dry.

The inners directly touch with the skin so they offer the comfort to the body whilst adjust the micro environment inside the socks and gloves. The inners are knitted with Merino wool (for winter) or Coolmax yarns (for the other seasons) to provide the superb thermal performance, moisture transfer, and the nice touch feeling. The yarns of the kind can also reduce the chances of blistering for foot owing to the property of quick wicking of moisture.

The functional interlinings are the high performance Porelle waterproof breathable membranes. The exceptional quality and reliable performances of the Porelle films ensure that  DexShell socks 100% waterproof and highly breathable.

PERFORMANCE

100% inspection of waterproofness

DexShell waterproof socks and gloves are inspected piece by piece on the ad hoc testing devices before packaging and despatching, and should be scrapped immediately if fail to pass the test. Porelle high performance waterproof barrier can stand with 10 psi equivalent to 7000 mm hydrostatic head.

Breathability index

The breathability is normally measured by the index of water vapour permeability through the fabrics under a certain testing setups. There are a number of testing standards and methods in the world for this specific property. The Porelle membrane in DexShell socks can reach the breathability 10,000g/m2.day in compliance with ASTM E96 BW:1995.

Excellent flexibility

Even though there is a special function layer in the middle, DexShell waterproof socks do not lose the close fitting feature as that of the usual knit socks, and DexShell seamless waterproof gloves are more tactile and dexterous than other types of sports gloves, owing to the unique fabricating technology and the spandex knitted into the outers.

Superb thermal performance

DexShell socks and gloves are waterproof and breathable so the spaces in the inners are full of air instead of moisture. The air is a kind of inefficient heat transfer substance so offers the enhanced warmth to your hands and feet.

DexShell Hytherm PRO socks hold additional abundant air in the terry loop piles in the inner socks so build up an extra air insulation layer for protection.

The rules for Masah on leather socks and other shariah compliant socks remain the same.

Q&A of Masah alal Khuffain (according to Hanafi Fiqh from Taleemul Haq)

Method of doing masah:    After wetting all the fingers of the hands they should be placed on the front side of the leather socks keeping the palms apart and then the fingers drawn towards the ankle.   It is also permitted if palms are also placed upon the khuffs and drawn with the fingers.  

The Condition for Masah

A complete wudu/ghusl must be made prior to putting on the khuffs and when renewing the wudu one can then perform the masah alal khffian instead of washing the feet.  The khuffs needs to be put on immediately after performing the wudu/ghusl.

Length of Time Khuffs be Worn Without Complete Wudu (i.e. washing the feet with water) 

Masah is valid for 24 hours for a muqeem (one who is not a traveler musaafir) and 72 hours for a  musaafir.  The period of 24 or 72 hours will begin from the time the wudhu breaks and not from the time the khuffs were put on.

For example, a muqeem makes wudhu at 6:00PM  and after completing his wudhu he or she immediately puts on the khuffs.  At 8:00 p.m. his wudhu breaks.   He can renew his wudhu by performing masah until 8:00PM the following day.  When this period (24 hours for the muqeem and 72 hours for the musaafir) expires, the khuffs should be removed and the feet washed.  It is not necessary to renew the wudhu. 

The Method of Masah Alal Khuffain

Ø  Draw the fingers of the right hand on the upper surface of the khuffain starting from the toes and ending at the foreleg (just above the ankle).  The masah should be done once only on each sock.  The right hand should be used for the right khuffs and the left hand for the left khuffs.

Ø  If the back of the hand is used to make the masah, it will also be valid.  However, one should not unnecessarily depart from the correct sunnah method of using fingers.

Ø  It is not permissible to make masah on the side or under surface of the khuffs. It is fardh to make masah on each sock to the extent of three full fingers i.e. the full surface area of three fingers must be drawn from the toes to the foreleg.

Nullificaiton the Masah on the Khuffain

1. All things which nullify wudhu.

2. Removal of the khuff

3. The expiration of the period (i.e. 24 hours for the muqeem and 72 hours for the musafir as noted earlier)

Other Masail Re: Masah al Khufian

Ø  If only one sock was removed it is waajib to remove the other one and wash both feet.   If the foreleg is exposed by lowering the khuffs, it is regarded as if the whole sock has been removed.

Ø  Masah is permissible on a torn Khuffs as long as the torn area is less than the size of three small toes.

Ø  If the seam of the khuffs comes loose but while walking the foot is not exposed, masah on such khuffs is  valid. 

Ø  If a muqeen who has made masah alal khuffain goes on a journey before the expiry of 24 hours, then his masah may be extended to 72 hours.  

Ø  If a musaafir who has made masah alal khuffain returns to his home town then his masah will be valid for only 24 hours. 

Ø  It is permissible to make masah on ordinary woollen etc (i.e. socks which have been covered with leather.)

Ø  If ghusl becomes compulsory then masah alal khuffain will not be permissible even if the valid period has not yet expired. The khuffain must be removed when the ghusl is taken and the feet washed. 

Ø  If after making masah one sets foot in a puddle of water and the water enters the khuff wetting more than half the foot, then masah will be nullified.  Both khuffain must be removed and the feet washed.

Q) What is your view regarding making Masah on Sealskinz socks. Do they fulfill the sharii requirement of masah?

Answer

In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

Assalaamu `alaykum waRahmatullahi Wabarakatoh

In order for it to be permissible to wipe on non-leather socks, it is imperative to fulfil all the conditions of leather socks.  After thoroughly studying the inherent qualities of leather socks, our illustrious Fuqaha suggest that non-leather socks should resemble leather socks in the following:

1.      They should entirely cover both the ankles.

2.      They should be durable enough that a person can walk with the sock for three miles without them tearing.

3.      Both socks should independently be free from holes to the extent of three small toes.

4.      The socks should remain on the leg without it being tied or fastened.

5.      They should be such that water does not seep through them.

[Al Mabsoot lil Sarakhsi (1/18, 184 Dar al Fikr), Al Muheet al Burhani (1/343, Al Majlis al Ilmi), Ahkam al Quran lil Jassaas (3/440, Dar al Kutub al Ilmiyyah), Tuhfa al Mulook (1/33, Dar al Bashaair al Islamiyyah), Majma al Anhur (1/75, Dar al kutub al Ilmiyyah), Al Bahr ar raaiq (1/191, 192 Dar al Ma’rifah), Tabyeen al haqaaiq 1/52 Dar al kutub al Ilmiyyah), Al Fatawa al Hindiyyah (1/32, Dar al fikr), Ad Dur al Mukhtaar (1/269, Dar al fikr), Tuhfa al Ahwadhi (1/278, Dar al kutub al Ilmiyyah), Al Maslak adh Dhaki (1/29, Wajidi Publishers), Fatawa Mahmoodiyyah (5/195, Farooqiyyah), Fatawa Haqqaniyyah (2/216, Dar al Uloom Haqqaniyyah), Kifayah al Mufti (2/321, Farouqiyyah, Fatawa Darul Uloom Zakariyyah (1/509-5516, Zam Zam Publishers)

(كتاب الحجة علي أهل المدينة – (ج 1 / ص 44 عالم الكتب)ينبغي لمن قاس علي السنة و الآثار أن يقيس علي السنة ما لم يأت فيه أثر لما قد جاءت فيه الآثار مما يشبهه

 (بداية المجتهد- (ج 1 / ص 52 دار الاسلام)  و من صح عنده الأثر أو جوز القياس علي الخف أجاز المسح علي الجوربين

 شرح فتح القدير - (ج 1 / ص 157 دار الفكر)لا شك أن المسح على الخف على خلاف القياس فلا يصلح إلحاق غيره به إلا إذا كان بطريق الدلالة وهو أن يكون في معناه ومعناه الساتر لمحل الفرض الذي هو بصدد متابعة المشي فيه في السفر وغيره للقطع بأن تعليق المسح بالخف ليس لصورته الخاصة بل لمعناه للزوم الحرج في النزع المتكرر في أوقات الصلاة خصوصا مع آداب السير

We have personally examined ‘sealskinz’ socks and are satisfied that they fulfill all the above-mentioned conditions. One can refer to their website to see the full durability of these socks. Hence, it is permissible to use ‘sealskinz’ socks as leather socks and make masah on them.

And Allah knows best

Checked and Approved by:

Mufti Ebrahim Desai