What is the ruling regarding wiping over heavily torn or worn footwear?
Chapter on Wiping over the Khuffayn (Leather Socks)
Al-Mughni
Book of Purification
Primary text
The ruling on wiping over torn footwear varies among scholars. Scholars such as Al-Thawri, Yazid bin Harun, Ishaq, and Ibn al-Mundhir permit wiping over any *khuff* regardless of tears, relying on the general nature of the Hadith and the practicality that Arab boots were often torn. Al-Awza'i permits wiping over torn *khuff* even over parts of the foot that become exposed. The basis for this permissibility is that the footwear allows for continued walking, thus resembling sound footwear, and the Prophet (PBUH) commanded wiping without detailing exceptions for tears, implying it applies to what was commonly worn.
Supporting text
Imam Abu Hanifah rules that wiping is impermissible if the tear equals the size of three fingers, but permissible if smaller. Al-Hasan holds a similar view. Imam Malik states that wiping is impermissible if the tearing is excessive and widespread (*kathir wa tafāhush*), but permissible otherwise. The counter-argument to broad permissibility is that if the footwear does not cover the obligatory area, wiping is invalid, analogous to excessive tearing or when a part requiring washing (instead of wiping) is exposed.