[cheapphenonline]

The A’immah-e-Arba`ah (four Imaams of Fiqh) and generally all the Fuqahaa are of the view that masah is only permissible upon leather socks or socks of a similar nature (details of which will follow later). Insha'allah if I get a chance I'll read the whole article but this does not apply to the Hanbalis who allow thick socks that need not be waterproof [see: [http://mac.abc.se/home/onesr/h/32.html and http://www.hanbali.org/hanbali_index/wos2.php and all the relevant entries here: http://www.hanbali.org/hanbali_index/purification.php ] and for the Malikis 'socks of a similar nature' does not apply - ie. its leather or nothing ... at least thats what i've learned from Malikis.