Short answer
One day and night (24 hours) if you are at home, and three days and nights (72 hours) if you are travelling. In the Hanafi school the time starts from the first time your wudu breaks after you put the khuffs on, not from when you put them on. The Maliki school sets no time limit.
A resident may wipe for 24 hours and a traveller for 72 hours, counted from the first breaking of wudu after wearing the khuffs on full wudu. Wiping ends when the time runs out, when a khuff is taken off, when ghusl becomes obligatory, or when a khuff tears by the size of three small toes.
Other madhhabs
- Maliki
- There is no time limit; it is recommended to take them off once a week, on Friday.
Explanation
Ali was asked about the time limit and answered that the Prophet ﷺ set three days and nights for the traveller and one day and night for the resident. The Hanafi, Shafi'i and Hanbali schools follow this.
When does the clock start? Say you make wudu at Fajr, put on your khuffs, and your wudu breaks at 10 am. A resident can wipe until 10 am the next day.
How to wipe in the Hanafi school:
- wet the fingers of your right hand and place them on the front of the right khuff, at the toes
- draw them up towards the shin, covering at least the width of three fingers
- do the same with the left hand on the left khuff
- wipe the top only, once; wiping the sole or heel is not sunnah
What ends the wiping:
- the time limit ends
- you take a khuff off, or most of your foot slips out into the leg part
- you need ghusl, after which you must take them off and wash
- a tear opens that shows the size of three small toes
If the time ends or you take them off while you still have wudu, you only need to wash your feet, not repeat the whole wudu. Remember that ordinary socks do not count: see wiping over socks.
The evidence
Sahih Muslim 276
Sahih... ثلاثة ايام ولياليهن للمسافر ويوما وليلة للمقيم ...
"The Messenger of Allah set three days and their nights for the traveller and a day and a night for the resident."
The time limit for wiping over khuffs.
Where the ruling is recorded
- al-Hidaya, Kitab al-Taharat, chapter on wiping over khuffs. The time limit starts from the first breaking of wudu after wearing them.
- Nur al-Idah with Maraqi al-Falah, Chapter on wiping over khuffs. How to wipe and what ends the wiping.
- Mukhtasar Khalil with al-Sharh al-Kabir, Kitab al-Taharah, chapter on wiping over khuffs. The Maliki view of no time limit.
This answer is pending review by the scholars on our team. Quran translation by Sahih International. Hadith Arabic from the standard editions of the six books and the Muwatta, with gradings as recorded there; the English is our own rendering. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.