Is Intention Necessary for Wiping Over Socks?

Question: 112323

Is it necessary to have the intention of wiping over the socks, meaning if I have Wudu and I put on socks without intending to wipe over them, when I do Wudu is it permissible to wipe over them even though I did not intend before that to wipe over the socks, and I only put the socks on to go out?.

Summary of answer

Intention is not required for wiping over the socks to be permissible as long as they are worn in a state of purity.

Answer

Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah and his family.

Is Intention Necessary for Wiping Over Socks?

It is not essential in order for it to be permissible to wipe over the socks that one should have the intention. If a person puts on socks when he is in a state of purity, then he may wipe over them for one day and one night if he is not travelling and for three days and nights if he is travelling.

Shaykh Ibn `Uthaymin (may Allah have mercy on him) was asked: Is it essential, in order for it to be permissible to wipe over the leather slippers, that one should have the intention of wiping over them and also the intention of the period (during which one will wipe over them)?

He replied:

In this case, the intention is not required, because this is a matter in which the ruling has to do with having socks on, and it does not require an intention. Similarly, if a person puts on a garment, it is not essential to have the intention of covering the `Awrah during prayer, for example.

And when putting on the leather slippers, he does not have to intend to wipe over them or to intend a period for which he will do that. Rather if he is travelling, he may wipe over them for three days and nights whether he intends that or not, and if he is not travelling, he may wipe over them for one day and one night, whether he intends that or not. (End quote from Majmu` Fatawa Ibn `Uthaymin, 11/117)

And Allah knows best.

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