Women Wearing Leather Socks in Ihram

By Mufti Ebrahim Desai
Posted: 24 Shawwal 1423, 29 December 2002


Q.) Is it permissible for me to wear leather socks (kufs) in a state of ihraam or generally in and around the holy mosques of Makkah and Madinah?

1) As a form of hijaab I would like to cover my hands and feet because many men are present and often in close proximity. In the house of Allah I would like to take most stringent precautions in order to retain modesty and thus earn the pleasure of Allah.

2) I have a weakness of the bladder and bowl and thus need to do wudu frequently. When at such a blessed place I would like to minimize this time, as there are a lot of people also trying to make wudu leading to long waits in queues.

3) Often when doing tawaaf, due to so many people, you can get people accidently walking over your feet or you being knocked by a wheel chair etc. Thus leather socks would also protect my feet - inshallah.

Can you also tell me if it is more pleasing to Allah if I (a woman) walk bear foot in the Baitullah or with socks on? Also for men, when out of ihraam can they wear leather socks in these blessed mosques? Is there less blessing in this?

Jazakalla khair. Please make dua that Allah Subhanallah Wa Tallah accepts my intention of Hajj and takes all such ibadaah from me which is pleasing to Him. May my families hajj be a hajj-e-mabroor.


A.) It is permissible for a female to wear leather socks in Ihraam and out of Ihraam. She may also wear leather socks while in the Baytullah. It is advisable for a female not to wear hand gloves in the state of Ihraam. Males cannot wear leather socks in the state of Ihraam. They may wear leather socks out of Ihraam, anywhere, including the Baytullah.

May Allah grant you and all the Haajis, Hajj-e-Mabroor, Aameen.

And Allah Ta'ala Knows Best