Some of the Rules concerning Wiping over the Socks

Question :

What is the permissible period for which socks may be worn and wiped over for the traveller? What is the ruling on one who wipes over them one time, then performs all of the five obligatory prayers with his (one) Wudhu', then he removes his socks and performs Wudhu'? Does the removal of the socks which he wiped over nullify the Wudhu"? May Allah reward you.

Answer:

The time limit for the traveller to wipe over his socks is three days and three nights, and for the resident, it is one day and one night. This period begins from the first time he wipes over his socks after invalidating his Wudhu'. So if he wore them for Fajr prayer, then lost his Wudhu' in the middle of the day, then wiped over them at the time when the sun passed its zenith, then the time would begin from after the sun passed its zenith and last for a day and a night if he was a resident and three days and three nights if he was a traveller. Then when the period is over the period for wiping over the socks and he was still in a state of Taharah, the state of Taharah would still be valid and he would remain in this state until it was nullified.

If he removed his socks while was still in a state of purity, if he had not yet wiped over them for the first time, that is after donning them, it would not invalidate his Wudhu'. And if he removed them after he had wiped over them, the most correct view is that he would not have invalidated his ablution, because there is no evidence to show that it would be invalidated, but he should not repeat it until he makes Wudhu' and washes his feet.

Source:
Ibn 'Uthaimin
Fatawa Islamiyah, Vol. 2 Pages 106-107