What does Al-msḥ ʿlā al-khufayni mean?

Islam > Glossary > Al-msḥ ʿlā al-khufayni

Discover the meaning of the term Al-msḥ ʿlā al-khufayni (مسْح على الْخُفَّيْنِ) in Islamic vocabulary.

Definition Al-msḥ ʿlā al-khufayni

Al-msḥ ʿlā al-khufayni according to Dustur al-'Ulama (Al-Ahmadnagari)

It is permissible according to us based on the well-known Sunna. If it is objected that the glorious Book explicitly states the obligation of washing both feet and that any addition to the Book is invalid, we reply that addition through the well-known Sunna is permissible regarding the Book, as established in its proper place. We say it is permissible because its validity is optional rather than obligatory. Furthermore, wiping over the two leather socks is valid for both men and women. It is not valid for someone in a state of major ritual impurity, such as a person who puts on leather socks after ablution, then becomes majorly impure, and washes their entire body except for their feet while placing them on an elevated surface to wipe over them, for this is not permissible. Likewise, an example is the case of a man who performs ablution, puts on the leather socks, becomes majorly impure, lacks water, performs tayammum for major impurity, then breaks his minor ablution, then finds water sufficient for minor ablution but insufficient for major bathing, in which case he performs minor ablution and washes his feet without wiping them, while performing tayammum for major impurity. Another example is a traveler who has water, performs ablution, puts on the leather socks, becomes majorly impure, performs tayammum for major impurity, then breaks his minor ablution while having enough water for minor ablution; it is not permissible for him to wipe because the major impurity has extended to the feet. In Sharh al-Wiqaya, it is mentioned that the scenario is a person in a state of major impurity who performs tayammum, then breaks minor ablution while having enough water to perform minor ablution, performs minor ablution, puts on the leather socks, then passes by water sufficient for major bathing without bathing, then finds enough water to perform minor ablution and performs tayammum a second time for major impurity, whereupon if they break minor ablution after that, they perform minor ablution and remove their leather socks. End quote.

Related terms: Al-msḥ ʿlā al-khufayni