The other three Imams—according to the settled position ultimately adopted in their schools—also ruled that wiping over them is permissible.

The jurists then differed over which is better: washing the feet or wiping over the footwear.

• The Shāfiʿīs maintain that washing is superior, on condition that one does not abandon wiping out of disdain for the Sunnah.

• The Ḥanbalīs hold that wiping is preferable to washing.

Sharḥ al-Iqnāʿ states: “Wiping over the khuffs is better than washing, because the Messenger ﷺ and his Companions always sought what is most virtuous; it also distinguishes one from the innovators, and because he ﷺ said: ‘Allah loves that His concessions be taken.’” Reported by Ibn Khuzaymah (3/259) and Ibn Ḥibbān (8/333).

Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allah have mercy on him) commented: “The Prophet ﷺ did not go out of his way to do the opposite of whatever state his feet happened to be in: if they were inside khuffs he would wipe over them, and if they were uncovered he would wash them.” He added, “This is the most equitable view.”