and wiping without flowing water, which is wiping without washing.

“The Quran commands wiping without qualification, while the Sunnah establishes that the head is wiped without flowing water, whereas the feet are wiped with flowing water. Thus, it explains the Quran rather than contradicting its apparent meaning. One should therefore reflect upon the Quran and understand its various aspects.”

For most passages whose apparent meaning people imagine has been contradicted are not so. Rather, they convey meanings understood by those whom Allah has granted understanding of His Book. This yields five benefits:

First: establishing rulings through evidence from the Quran.

Second: demonstrating the agreement between the Book and the Sunnah.

Third: showing that the Sunnah explains the Quran rather than contradicting it.

Fourth: clarifying the meanings and explanations contained in the Quran.

Fifth: showing that scholarly consensus accords with the Book and the Sunnah. And Allah knows best.

He was asked about the saying of the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace:

“The best of deeds in Allah’s sight is prayer at its prescribed time.”

Does this mean the earlier or the later part of its time?