Fatwa n° 596
Category: Fatwas about Salât (Prayer) - Mosques
Concerning preventing [the praying people]
from wearing socks in the mosque
Question:
The Imam (the leader of the prayer) of our mosque has commanded the praying people not to wear socks in the mosque. However, some brothers refuse to take their socks off so as to preserve the period of wiping over them. So, is it a valid command to take off the socks in the mosque? May Allah reward you.
Answer:
All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds. Peace and blessing be upon whom Allah sent as a mercy to the Worlds, upon his Family, his Companions and his Brothers till the Day of Resurrection:
None should prevent people from performing the prayer in clean and pure socks that do not entail any harm, nor turn them away from the mosques because of such socks, for it is unanimously agreed that it is permissible to perform the prayer therewith, be it with the intention of wiping over them or not, and be it inside the mosque or outside it, given that the Prophet صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم “Wiped over his socks and sandals” (1), and it is authentically reported that he performed the prayer barefooted and wearing his sandals (2), and both are Sunnah. For that reason, it is not valid to draw closer to Allah عزَّ وجلَّ by taking off the socks or the stockings and the pure turbans under the guise of increasing the reward and the divine blessings through performing the prayer barefooted, because every innovation [in religion] is misguidance; the Prophet صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم said: “If somebody innovates something which is not involved in the principles of our religion, that thing will be rejected”(3).
The perfect knowledge belongs to Allah عزَّ وجلَّ. Our last prayer is all praise is due to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds. Peace and blessing be upon our Prophet, his Family, his Companions and Brothers till the Day of Resurrection.
Algiers, Dhu Al-Hijja the 19th, 1427 H.
Corresponding to: January the 8th, 2007 G.
(1) Reported by Abû Dâwûd (159), by At-Tirmidhî (99) and by Ibn Mâjah (599), from the hadith of Al-Mughîra Ibn Shu‘ba رضي الله عنه. This hadith is judged authentic by Al-Albânî in “Sahîh Abî Dâwûd” (147) and in “Al-Irwâ’ ” (1/137) (101).
(2) Reported by Abû Dâwûd (653), by Ibn Mâjah (1038), from the hadith of ‘Abd Allâh Ibn ‘Amr رضي الله عنهما. It is also reported by An-Naşâ’î (1361), from the hadith of ‘Â’isha رضي الله عنها. This hadith is judged authentic by Ahmad Shâkir in his “Recension of Musnad Ahmad” (10/158) and by Al-Abânî in “Sahîh Abî Dâwûd” (660).
(3) Reported -unanimously- by Al-Bukhârî (2697) and by Muslim (1718), from the hadith of ‘Â’isha رضي الله عنها. It is also reported by Muslim (1718) in this wording: “Whoever does an action that is not in accordance with our tradition will have it rejected”.