Issue: If he wears spectacles over his eyes, that is permissible, because they do not fall under these five items, neither in wording nor in meaning.

If he places an earpiece in his ear, that is permissible, since it does not fall under these five, neither in wording nor in meaning.

If he fits dental prostheses in his mouth, that is permissible.

If he wears stitched sandals containing threads, that is permissible, because they are not leather socks; rather, they are stitched sandals. Their stitching does not cause them to cease being sandals. This supports what we have said: adhering to the wording of the Prophet is preferable to saying that what is prohibited is wearing sewn garments, for many ordinary people ask about stitched sandals, saying, “They contain threads.”

If a person wears a sword or weapon slung around his neck, that is permissible, because it does not fall under what the Messenger of Allah, may Allah’s blessings and peace be upon him, explicitly mentioned, neither in wording nor in meaning.

If he ties a belt around his stomach, that is permissible. If he hangs a waterskin from his shoulder, that is permissible; and if he hangs a pouch for provisions from it, that is permissible.

The point is that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah’s blessings and peace be upon him, specifically enumerated what is prohibited. Whatever shares its meaning, we include under it; whatever does not share its meaning, we do not include under it; and where we are uncertain, the basic principle is permissibility. Among the things concerning which there may be uncertainty is a sewn waist-wrapper. Some people wear a sewn waist-wrapper—that is, one that does not open—then wrap it around their bodies and tie it with a cord. Do we say that this is permissible, or that it resembles a shirt or trousers?

We say: It is permissible, because it does not resemble either a shirt or trousers. Trousers have a separate leg for each foot, while a shirt covers the upper body and has a sleeve for each hand.