Can Masah be Made on Nylon Socks?

Q: Taharaat-49: The Arab students attending cur universities and colleges Make Masah on their nylon socks and when told that it is not permissible They claim that their shoes are clean because they walk only on carpet. They therefore maintain that it is not necessary to remove the socks every time They make wudhu. Can Masah be made on nylon socks?

Answer: Several Ahadeeth report that Rasulullaah SAW. made masah on his Khuffain, which refers to leather socks according to the Fuqahaa and the Muhadditheen. There is therefore no difference of opinion when Masah is made on leather socks. It is permissible without question.

However, when socks are not made of leather, Fuqahaa attach certain conditions to the validity of Masah on them. One condition is that they must be made of such a strong fabric that a person can walk three miles wearing only these socks on his feet. The second condition is that they should be able to stay on a person's feet without the need to tie them (but only because of the thickness of the fabric) the third condition is that they must not absorb water or allow it to reach the feet (it must be waterproof)" If socks of any fabric fulfill the above three conditions, it will be permissible to make Masah on them.

Nylon socks are naturally not so thick that they can be used to walk three miles without tearing. Even if this is possible, they are not waterproof Fuqahaa are therefore unanimous that it will therefore not be permissible to make masaah on them.

For the shoes and socks to be pure?is not the only factor that determines when Masah is made, because they need to be pure in any event. Together with them being pure, it is also necessary for the socks to be of a standard that fulfills the above three conditions. The Masah made on nylon socks will be invalid because such socks do not meet the requirements" And Allaah knows best what is most correct.

Fatawa Rahimiyyah vol.2