Question:

I sweat excessively, my feet and palms (more than normal) it has been something I have struggled with since I was a child. It gets really bad during the summer when the weather is hot. I wear socks, I know that a women's feet are considered a awrah. 

During the hot weather, my feet sweat so much when I wear socks that I developed foot fungus which is due to excess moisture in my feet and now no matter what I have tried my feet smell really bad every time I take off my shoes, I am a very clean person and I try really hard to prevent this from happening. 

I wore different socks (different fabrics) but nothing helps. It's a very embarrassing problem for me as women. When I'm around people after I take off my shoes it smells terrible, I feel like crying every time. I was wondering if during the summer I can not wear socks but wear shoes like flats that don't require socks and I will cover my toes. 

Please let me know. This is a huge problem in my life. Jazzakom Allahu khairan.

Answer:

Bismillahi Ta'ala

Assalamu alaikum warahmatullahi wabrakatuh,

The requirement to cover feet by wearing socks is dependent on whether feet are considered a part of awrah (nakedness) for a woman or not.

The mu'tamad (relied upon) position of Hanafi school is that feet are excluded from the awrah of women. (1)

It is for this reason, wearing socks to cover the feet is a measure of extra taqwa. However, if it poses difficulty or causes discomfort, as in your case, then there is no need to wear socks.(2)

At the same time, should you still wish to keep your feet covered, you may look into deodorising medicinal feet powders which help in keeping feet dry, and free from bacteria which causes a foul smell.

And Allah Ta'ala Knows best,

Wassalamu `alaykum, 
 
Mufti Faisal al-Mahmudi

(1)
(وَلِلْحُرَّةِ) وَلَوْ خُنْثَى (جَمِيعُ بَدَنِهَا) حَتَّى شَعْرُهَا النَّازِلُ فِي الْأَصَحِّ (خَلَا الْوَجْهِ وَالْكَفَّيْنِ) فَظَهْرُ الْكَفِّ عَوْرَةٌ عَلَى الْمَذْهَبِ (وَالْقَدَمَيْنِ)عَلَى الْمُعْتَمَدِ،
—
(قَوْلُهُ عَلَى الْمُعْتَمَدِ) أَيْ مِنْ أَقْوَالٍ ثَلَاثَةٍ مُصَحَّحَةٍ، ثَانِيهَا عَوْرَةٌ مُطْلَقًا، ثَالِثهَا عَوْرَةٌ خَارِجَ الصَّلَاةِ لَا فِيهَا
الدر المختار وحاشية ابن عابدين (رد المحتار) (1/ 405)

وفي القدمين اختلاف المشايخ واختلاف الروايات عن أصحابنا رحمهم الله، وكان الفقيه أبو جعفر يتردد في هذا فيقول مرة؛ إن قدميها عورة، ويقول مرة: إن قدميها ليس بعورة، فمن يجعلها عورة يقول يلزمها سترها ومن لا يجعلها عورة يقول: لا يلزمها سترها، والأصح أنه ليس بعورة
المحيط البرهاني في الفقه النعماني (1/ 279)

(2)

Aap ky Masa'il aur un ka hal 6/79, Maktaba Ludhiyanwi
Kitab un Nawazi lil Mansurpuri 15/415, Markaz lil ilmi