Q: Saalam,
I had a quesion regarding wudu in public bathrooms. The library I study at a daily basis ,there bathrooms are  basically very dirty especially the floor. I am paranoid about my feet touching the floor while performing wudu, I wanted to ask what is the best way to do wudu in a place that is not very clean? I read on various websites that you can have the water touch your socks if they are above your ankle ???
when papel towels are available i resort to that but its more of the dirty wet floor that concerns me, please let me know what is the best way and when praying in a corner and there is no prayer mat can we use a blank of sheet paper to do sajda on?
JazakAllah
Wasalam

Time: Thursday November 18, 2010 at 11:36 pm

A: ?????? ?????? ????? ???? ???????
Your question in one that is posed by many students. I appreciate the concern.
*If impurity beyond a certain amount (go here for amounts)  remains upon you, then your whudhu would be incomplete, and thus your salah would be invalid.

*The ayah of the Quran states that the feet must be washed. For a healthy person, Masah (wiping) alone only can exist under the conditions in which a person is wearing a leather sock or a sock that fulfills the specific criteria. The basic socks that are found in stores do not fulfill the criteria of allowing masa (wiping) over them. Thus, general cotton socks would not count as a leather sock, for a leather sock has criteria that cannot be fulfilled by a cotton sock. It is your prayer and prayer being Fard and a command of Allah (SWT), we feel that when differences of opinion exist, we should steer to the safest opinion. After-all, you are placing so much effort into it — whudu, time out, etc., why spoil it due to some mere website allowing you to do as such! If two choices exist, it is always better to go on the safer route. (Safety comes with a price, so does paradise.) Wash your feet up to the ankles.
*The place you pray upon must be clean, free of impurities. To pray in an impure place would not be permissible.
Libraries have many clean places in them, merely be in a habit of carrying a thin prayer rug (as i have seen some students do.)
May Allah Bless you in all the good deeds you are to take part in, Ameen
Allah Certainly Knows Best.