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Intention to Remove Socks Does Not Invalidate Tayammum

Question

As-Salaam Alaykum. If I make wudhu, put on my socks and later break my wudhu, then I intend to take off the socks but keep them on, can I still wipe over the socks. In other words, does the mere intention of removing the socks disqualify one from wiping over the socks? Jazakallah Khayran

Answer

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ) is His slave and Messenger.

The mere intention to remove the socks does not invalidate the permissibility of wiping over them (Tayammum), as it appears to us. What invalidates ablution is when one takes the socks off. Al-Bahooti  may  Allaah  have  mercy  upon  him said in Daqaa'iq Uli An-Nuha:

Wiping over the socks takes the place of washing the feet. If the substitute that covers the feet (socks) is removed, then the ritual purity (resulting from wiping over them) is invalidated as a ruling.

Therefore, the intention of removing your socks does not prevent you form wiping over them if you did not actually take them off, as you mentioned.

Allah knows best.

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