The period for wiping over socks (khuffayn) or regular socks (jawrabayn) is one day and one night for a resident, and three days and three nights for a traveler.

Shaykh Ibn 'Uthaymeen clarifies that this is based on the authentic Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him). The condition for being able to wipe is that the socks were put on after completing a full ablution (wudu) or ghusl, meaning one was in a state of ritual purity.

The duration begins not from when the socks are put on, nor from the first time one breaks their wudu, but rather from the first time one wipes over the socks after having broken their wudu. For example, if a person performs wudu for Fajr prayer on Monday, puts on his socks, and then breaks his wudu at 9 AM but does not perform wudu again until Dhuhr at 12 PM, the 24-hour period for a resident begins from the time he wipes for his Dhuhr wudu at 12 PM. He can then continue to wipe for all subsequent prayers until 12 PM on Tuesday.

This ruling is established on the basis of clear evidence from the Sunnah. If the period expires (e.g., 24 hours pass for a resident), and the person is still in a state of wudu from their last wiping, their wudu remains valid. They only need to perform a full wudu (washing the feet) the next time they break it.