Question:
If for example I was in school and I had broken my wudu while wearing my normal socks I had on since I made wudu before. The school only has high sinks and even the Muslim teachers have said to not wash our feet in the sinks. Would it be permissible for me to perform massah on my sock for my wudu to be valid and so I can pray, or would it be better for me to miss the salah?
(Question published as received)
Answer:
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
Masḥ (wiping) on normal cotton socks when performing wuḍūʾ is not permissible. If a person does that his wuḍūʾ is invalid, and subsequently any ṣalāhs performed with this wuḍūʾ will also be invalid.
You can refer to our fatwā on this topic here.
In the enquired scenario, if the school does not permit you to wash your feet for wuḍūʾ in the sink, you should wear leather socks or masḥ socks. Masḥ socks are comfortable and can be used for making masḥ during wuḍūʾ, provided they meet the conditions mentioned in the above-linked fatwā. You should make wuḍūʾ first and then wear these socks. After that, whenever you require wuḍūʾ you should make wuḍūʾ and make masḥ on these socks instead of washing your feet.
And Allah knows best.
(Mufti) Bilal al-Mahmudi
