The Ruling on Wiping over the Socks in the Summer without an Excuse

Question:

I notice some worshippers wiping over their socks when making Wudhu, even in the summer! Please give me a verdict as to the permitted latitude of this, and (tell me) which is better for the resident, ablution including washing of the feet, or wiping over the socks, bearing in mind that those who wipe over their socks have no excuse, except that they say that it is permitted?

Answer:

The generality of the authentic Hadiths which prove the permissibility of wiping over the Khafif and Jawarib shows that it is allowed to wipe over them in winter and summer, and I know of no legal evidence to prove that it is only permitted in winter. But it is not permitted to wipe over socks or any other such footwear, without fulfilling the necessary legal conditions, including the stipulation that the sock covers the required area of the foot and that the sock is put on while the wearer is in a state of Taharah and that the time limit - which is a day and a night for the resident and three days for the traveller - is observed, beginning from the first time they are wiped over following the loss of Wudhu, according to the most correct of two opinions held by the scholars. And Allaah is the Granter of success.

Source:
Shaykh `Abdul-`Azeez Bin Baz
Fatawa Islamiyah Vol. 2 Page 104