masah

Masah is a ritual in Islam involving the symbolic wiping of the head or feet with water. It is often performed as part of the ablution process, known as wudu, before prayer (salat). The specific method and applicability of masah can vary between different schools of Islamic jurisprudence.

In wudu, masah of the head is typically performed by passing wet hands from the front of the head to the back, and then returning them to the front. This is a mandatory component for most Muslims. For the feet, masah is a permissible alternative to washing them, particularly when wearing socks (khuffayn) that meet certain criteria, such as being clean and covering the ankles. This practice is often referred to as masah on khuffayn.

The Quranic basis for masah is found in Surah Al-Ma'idah (5:6), which mentions wiping the head and feet during ablution. The detailed interpretation and application of this verse, including the conditions for masah on socks, are subjects of scholarly discussion and have led to the differing opinions among the major Islamic legal schools (madhhabs). While the masah of the head is universally accepted, the masah of the feet on socks is a point of divergence, with some schools allowing it under specific circumstances and others requiring the washing of feet even when socks are worn.