Whether it is permissible or not to make masah on cotton socks.
Question: What is the ruling of the Ulama-e-Deen regarding whether it is permissible or not to make masah on cotton socks?
The Answer: Masah on cotton or woolen socks as is commonly used in our country is unanimously agreed to be disallowed, as it is neither bound, in other words it does not have skin (as in leather socks) which is encased upto the ankles and neither is it of the type which has a leather soul and neither is it of the type which is so thick and firm that it can be worn by itself and journeyed with without causing doubt and due to its thickness it remains on the leg without being strung and it does not become loose and slide down and it is not of such (material) that if water is put on it, then it will hold the water and not immediately do down towards the feet.
Masah cannot be made on that kind of sock that does not have these three qualities (as mentioned) above, namely; bound, soled and encased. However, if it is coated with leather, or if a leather sole is put on it and somehow it is made thick and firm, then according to the Saahibain (Imam Abu Yusuf and Imam Mohammed) masah on it is permissible and the decree is absolute on this. It is mentioned in Muniyya and Ghunniya: