wrap cloths around the feet against the cold, for fear of going barefoot, because of wounds on them, or for similar reasons.”

The reply is that there are two views on this, both mentioned by al-Halwānī. The correct view is that one may wipe over these wrappings; indeed, they have a stronger claim to being wiped over than leather socks or ordinary socks. Such wrappings are normally used only out of need, and cases of this kind involve harm: exposure to cold, suffering from going barefoot, or pain from wounds. If wiping over leather socks and ordinary socks is permissible, then wiping over wrappings is all the more so.

Whoever claims a consensus on any of these matters has nothing to rely on but his own lack of knowledge. He cannot even report a prohibition from ten well-known scholars, let alone establish a consensus. Disagreement on this is well known within Ahmad’s school and elsewhere. Indeed, the very permissibility of wiping over leather socks was unknown to many earlier and later scholars. Some of the Companions denied it, while some jurists of Medina and members of the Prophet’s household rejected it altogether. This is also one view reported from Mālik; the well-known view reported from him permits it during travel but not while resident.

Imam Ahmad compiled a substantial book, “Beverages,” on the prohibition of intoxicants, without mentioning any disagreement among the Companions. When questioned about this, he replied, “Disagreement among the Companions is authentically established in this matter, unlike the question of intoxicants.” And Mālik, despite his extensive knowledge and the loftiness of