Leave them, for I had put them on when they were in the state of purity

Explanation

In one of his journeys, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) was performing ablution. On reaching the part of washing the feet, Al-Mughīrah ibn Shu‘bah (may Allah be pleased with him) stretched his hands to take off the Prophet's leather socks to wash his feet. However, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: Leave them and do not take them off, for I had put them on while being in a state of Tahārah (ritual purity). Hence, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) wiped over his leather socks instead of washing his feet.

Lessons

• The permissibility of wiping over the leather socks when performing ablution from minor Hadath (ritual impurity), but when taking a ritual bath from major Hadath, the feet must be washed.
• Wiping is done by passing the wet hand once over the surface of the leather sock, not its bottom.
• The conditions for wiping over leather socks are: wearing them after having performed a complete ablution where the feet are washed with water, the leather socks must be pure and cover the area that must be washed in ablution, wiping over them in case of minor Hadath not in case of Janābah (impurity due to sexual discharge) or what requires a ritual bath, and wiping over them during the period prescribed by Shariah, namely one day and night for the resident and three days and nights for the traveler.
• What applies to leather socks applies also to all footwear including socks and others. It is permissible to wipe over them.
• Good moral character of the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) and his teaching method, as he forbade Al-Mughīrah from taking off his leather socks and told him the reason, that he put them on when his feet were in the state of ritual purity, so that he be reassured and know the ruling.