QUESTION:
As salamu alaykum,
Mufti. Can you explain the principle in Shariyyah from this hadith please?
Sayyiduna ‘Ali (radiyallahu ‘anhu) said:
“If the religion were based on opinion, it would be more important to wipe [make masah on] the under part of the leather sock rather than the upper, however, I have seen Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) wipe the upper part.”
Imam Abu Dawud (rahimahullah) has recorded this narration. Hafiz Ibn Hajar (rahimahullah) has declared the chain authentic (sahih)
(Sunan Abi Dawud, Hadith: 163, At Talkhisul Habir, Hadith: 717)
Jazak Allah khayr
ANSWER:
Wa Alaikum As Salaam,
The narration of Ali (R.A) explains that if Islam (our religion) was based on one’s personal opinions and mere logics and reasoning, without narrations and transmitted information, then beneath the socks, (which is normally touched by dirtiness, dirt and impurities) would be more preferred for wiping (masah) than the top (because the top/upper part of the socks is further away from dirtiness). However, since Islam is not based on mere reasoning and opinion, it would not be permissible to do so. The religion of Islam and its teachings and laws, are based on transmitted information and narrations which came from the Prophet (S.A.S), who was guided and inspired by Allah. Hence, Muslims would continue to practice on what came from the Prophet (S.A.S), and not what their reasoning tells them to do. Therefore, in the matter of making masah on the socks, although our reasoning tells us that wiping beneath the socks is more preferred than wiping on the top, since dirtiness and impurities would normally touch the beneath rather than the top, we will leave off this reasoning and follow what is narrated from the Prophet (S.A.S), even though this may be against logics.
(Bazl Al Majhood Vol. 1 Pg 688 Dar Al Basha’ir Al Islamiyah Beirut 2006).
And Allah Knows best
Mufti Waseem Khan
22/03/2018