Permissibility of Wiping (masah) over SealSkinz Socks
Question:
Do you agree with the esteemed opinion of Shaykh Faraz Rabbani who consulted with Shaykh Adib Kallas of Damascus and other eminent Hanafi jurists that Masah on Sealskin (Non-Leather socks) is permissible? The full text and link to the Fatwa is as follows:
http://qa.sunnipath.com/issue_view.asp?id=17510&hd=1&cate=0&t=rss
Answer:
After personally inspecting and examining SealSkinz socks, I can confirm that it is permitted to wipe (masah) over such socks, since they are waterproof and fulfil the basic conditions required for Masah to be allowed on footgear.
The jurists of the various Fiqh Schools have permitted wiping over socks that, although not made of leather (Khuf), have the qualities of leather due to their thickness. These qualities include water not being able to penetrate through them, staying upright without having to tie them, and the possibility of walking a mile or two without them being torn. (See: Bada’i al-Sana’i 1/10 and Al-Hidaya 1/61 for the Hanafi School, Hashiyat Dardir ala Sharh al-Khalil 1/226-227 for the Maliki School, and Al-Majmu’ 1/283-284 for the Shafi’i School)
And Allah knows best
[Mufti] Muhammad ibn Adam
Darul Iftaa
Leicester , UK