The Sahabah who used to wear leather socks, did they also wear shoes on top, or did their “socks” serve them as shoes? Please quote a few valid instances with the answer.

In the Ahaadith narrated by Imaam Tirmidhi (RA) in his Shamaail, description is given of the shoes of Nabi (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam). Ibn Abbaas (Radhiallaahu Anhu) reports that Rasulullah's (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) shoe had two durable traps.

In another Hadith narrated by Ubayd ibn Jurayhi (Radhiallaahu Anhu), he says, 'I asked ibn Umar (Radhiallaahu Anhu) the reason for not wearing shoes with hair on them.' He replied, 'I had seen Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) wear and perform Wudhu with shoes that did not have hair on them. That is why I also like this type of shoes.' Hadhrat Shaykh (RA) explains in his commentary, 'In the above Hadith, it is also stated that Wudhu was performed with these shoes. The reason being, at that time in Arabia, the shoes did not have an upper part. They were made of soles with two straps on them. It was, therefore, possible to perform Wudhu with this type of shoes where the feet could be washed without any inconvenience. For this reasom Sayyidina (Radhiallaahu Anhu) sometimes, to show that it was permissible, did this.' (Shamaail Tirmidhi)

Abu Hurayra (Radhiallaahu Anhu) says that the shoes of Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) had two straps. In the same manner, the shoes of Abu Bakr and Umar (Radhiallaahu Anhuma) also had two straps on them. Uthmaan (Radhiallaahu Anhu) began the use of one strap. Sayyiduna Uthmaan (Radhiallaahu Anhu) may have adopted the use of one strap so that it may not be assumed that two straps are strictly necessary.

As for the Khuff (leather socks) of Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam), Imaam Tirmidhi has narrated a Hadith that Buraydah (Radhiallaahu Anhu) says, 'Najjaashiy sent two simple black coloured Khuffs as a gift to Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam). He wore these and made Masah over them after performing Wudhu. (Shamaail Tirmidhi)

and Allah Ta'ala Knows Best

Mufti Ebrahim Desai