when they could not find sandals, without cutting it down. Whoever stipulates cutting it down therefore contradicts the text. Trousers whose seams have been undone and leather footwear that has been cut down do not fall under the unqualified designations “trousers” and “leather footwear,” just as a shirt, once its seams have been undone and it has become separate pieces, is not called trousers. The same applies to a hooded cloak and other garments.

He initially commanded them to cut it down only because the concession permitting substitutes had not yet been prescribed. He therefore commanded them to cut it down at that time because, once cut down, it becomes like sandals and is no longer leather footwear. For this reason, wiping over it is not permissible, by agreement of the Muslims: it was not included in his permission to wipe over leather footwear. This also shows that anything worn below the ankles—whether madās or jumjum footwear, or other kinds resembling leather footwear cut down below the ankles—is all the more clearly permissible. Its permissibility is thus original, like that of sandals, rather than a concession allowing it as a substitute. What is permitted as a substitute is leather footwear without qualification, and trousers.

His noble statements and honoured words, which are lamps of guidance, also establish several matters that people need to know and over which scholars have differed:

Among them is that, when he permitted a pilgrim in the consecrated state who could not find sandals to wear leather footwear—either without qualification or on condition that it be cut down—this constituted permission to wear anything called leather footwear, whether sound or defective.

Likewise, when he permitted wiping over leather footwear, this constituted permission to wipe over any leather footwear. The point is not to extend one ruling to another by analogy, such that someone might object: “In that case he permitted wearing it, whereas in this case he permitted wiping over it.” Rather, the point is that, by consensus, the term “leather footwear” in his words includes this kind. It follows that the term