when the man whom he assumed to be a scholar said, “What if the sun were to rise before dawn?!” They relate that Abu Hanifah then stretched out his leg and said, “In that case, Abu Hanifah may stretch out his leg without concern.” Allah knows best whether this report is authentic.

In any case, since we have tied this matter to customary practice, it varies according to differing customs. The author defined propriety as follows:

“It is doing that which enhances and adorns a person, and avoiding that which defiles and disgraces him.”

That is, doing what people regard as enhancing and adorning a person, such as generosity, self-sacrificing courage—which is bravery—a cheerful countenance, openness toward people, and the like. Everything that enhances a person is undoubtedly part of propriety. Yet this varies: concerning one man, we may say that if he fails to do this, he has done something that disgraces him; whereas concerning another, we would not say that he has done something disgraceful. For example, if we see a man who holds a prominent position in the town and is one of its leading figures, yet he does not give the town its due in welcoming visitors—especially eminent ones—we would say that this is contrary to propriety. But if an ordinary person comes and does not greet the notable and distinguished people who have arrived in the town, he is not considered to have acted contrary to propriety. In short, everything that enhances and adorns a person in the eyes of people is part of propriety.

Regarding his statement, “that which enhances and adorns him,” it says in al-Rawḍ (1): this is determined by customary practice, such as generosity and good character.

And regarding his statement, “and avoiding that which defiles and disgraces him”: this means, according to customary practice, avoiding base matters. Thus, the testimony of one who slaps others is not accepted; this is derived from slapping. Boxing is of the same kind, or even worse; it is contrary to propriety.