Question Summary:
Is it permissible to make Masah on Sealskin socks?

Question Detail:

Is it permissible to make Masah on Sealskin socks?

Answer :

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.
The original SealSkinz socks fulfill all the conditions of a leather sock (Mozah); therefore, it is permissible for one to make Masah on the original SealSkinz socks. We cannot comment on the fake sealskinz socks as we have not seen them.
And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best
Moulana Ismail Desai,
Student Darul Iftaa
Durban, South Africa
Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.
 
Hereunder is the original Fatwa of Mufti Ebrahim Desai Saheb (Damat Barakatuhum) on SealSkinz socks:
Q) What is your view regarding making Masah on Sealskinz socks. Do they fulfil the sharii requirement of masah?
Answer
In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful
Assalaamu `alaykum waRahmatullahi Wabarakatoh
In order for it to be permissible to wipe on non-leather socks, it is imperative to fulfil all the conditions of leather socks.  After thoroughly studying the inherent qualities of leather socks, our illustrious Fuqaha suggest that non-leather socks should resemble leather socks in the following:
1.      They should entirely cover both the ankles.
2.      They should be durable enough that a person can walk with the sock for three miles without them tearing.
3.      Both socks should independently be free from holes to the extent of three small toes.
4.      The socks should remain on the leg without it being tied or fastened.
5.      They should be such that water does not seep through them.
[Al Mabsoot lil Sarakhsi (1/18, 184 Dar al Fikr), Al Muheet al Burhani (1/343, Al Majlis al Ilmi), Ahkam al Quran lil Jassaas (3/440, Dar al Kutub al Ilmiyyah), Tuhfa al Mulook (1/33, Dar al Bashaair al Islamiyyah), Majma al Anhur (1/75, Dar al kutub al Ilmiyyah), Al Bahr ar raaiq (1/191, 192 Dar al Ma’rifah), Tabyeen al haqaaiq 1/52 Dar al kutub al Ilmiyyah), Al Fatawa al Hindiyyah (1/32, Dar al fikr), Ad Dur al Mukhtaar (1/269, Dar al fikr), Tuhfa al Ahwadhi (1/278, Dar al kutub al Ilmiyyah), Al Maslak adh Dhaki (1/29, Wajidi Publishers), Fatawa Mahmoodiyyah (5/195, Farooqiyyah), Fatawa Haqqaniyyah (2/216, Dar al Uloom Haqqaniyyah), Kifayah al Mufti (2/321, Farouqiyyah, Fatawa Darul Uloom Zakariyyah (1/509-5516, Zam Zam Publishers)
(كتاب الحجة علي أهل المدينة – (ج 1 / ص 44 عالم الكتب)ينبغي لمن قاس علي السنة و الآثار أن يقيس علي السنة ما لم يأت فيه أثر لما قد جاءت فيه الآثار مما يشبهه
 (بداية المجتهد- (ج 1 / ص 52 دار الاسلام)  و من صح عنده الأثر أو جوز القياس علي الخف أجاز المسح علي الجوربين
 شرح فتح القدير - (ج 1 / ص 157 دار الفكر)لا شك أن المسح على الخف على خلاف القياس فلا يصلح إلحاق غيره به إلا إذا كان بطريق الدلالة وهو أن يكون في معناه ومعناه الساتر لمحل الفرض الذي هو بصدد متابعة المشي فيه في السفر وغيره للقطع بأن تعليق المسح بالخف ليس لصورته الخاصة بل لمعناه للزوم الحرج في النزع المتكرر في أوقات الصلاة خصوصا مع آداب السير
We have personally examined ‘sealskinz’ socks and are satisfied that they fulfil all the above-mentioned conditions. One can refer to their website to see the full durability of these socks. Hence, it is permissible to use ‘sealskinz’ socks as leather socks and make masah on them.
And Allah knows best
Checked and Approved by:
Mufti Ebrahim Desai