“And anything similar to either of them, and over a man’s turban . . .”

His statement, “and anything similar to either of them,” means anything resembling them among all that is worn on the feet, whether it is called a leather sock, a sock, a short leather sock, an outer leather sock, or something else. Wiping over it is permissible, because the effective cause is the same.

His statement, “and over a man’s turban,” means that wiping over a man’s turban is permissible. A turban is that which is wrapped and wound around the head; it is well known.

The evidence for the permissibility of wiping over it is the hadith of al-Mughirah ibn Shu‘bah, may Allah be pleased with him, that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, “wiped over his forelock, his turban, and his leather socks” (1).

It may also be referred to as a head covering, as in Sahih Muslim: “He wiped over the two leather socks and the head covering” (2). He said: this means the turban (3).

Thus, he explained the head covering as meaning the turban. Were it not for this explanation, we would have held it permissible to wipe over the ghutrah (headcloth) when it covers the head, just as it is permissible regarding women’s head coverings.

His statement, “for a man,” means not for a woman. This is one of the conditions for the permissibility of wiping over a turban: a woman may not wipe over a turban, because wearing one is prohibited for her due to its entailing imitation of men. Indeed, the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, has cursed . . .