What is the prescribed manner for wiping over socks (*Khuffayn*)?
Chapter on Wiping over the Khuffayn (Leather Socks)
Al-Mughni
Book of Purification
Primary text
If one wipes over socks, the preferred Sunnah is to place the hand on the area covering the toes and draw it toward the shin. It is permissible to wipe from the shin down toward the toes, but the former manner is superior (Sunnah). Wiping the sole or the heel is not legislated as Sunnah.
Supporting text
The view held by 'Urwah, 'Ata', Al-Hasan, Al-Nakha'i, Al-Thawri, Al-Awza'i, Ishaq, the Ashab al-Ra'y (Hanafi school), and Ibn al-Mundhir is that only the top surface is wiped. Furthermore, it is narrated that Sa'd held the view that both the exterior and interior should be wiped. A similar opinion regarding wiping both surfaces is narrated from Ibn 'Umar, 'Umar bin 'Abd al-'Aziz, Al-Zuhri, Mak'hul, Ibn al-Mubarak, Malik, and Al-Shafi'i, based on the narration of Al-Mughirah bin Shu'bah where the Prophet (peace be upon him) wiped the top and bottom of the sock. They argue that wiping the bottom corresponds to the area designated for the requirement of washing (if not wearing socks), thus resembling the top surface.