nor under the prohibition on wearing leather socks while in ihrām, according to the sounder scholarly view. This is why the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, initially instructed the person in ihrām to cut down his leather socks: a cut-down leather sock is not a leather sock in the unqualified sense. Later, at Arafāt, he permitted wearing trousers and leather socks without requiring that the trousers’ seams be opened or the leather socks cut down.

Trousers with their seams opened and leather socks cut down in this way do not fall within the unqualified meanings of “trousers” and “leather socks.” Likewise, the unqualified term “sale” does not encompass the sale of wine, carrion or swine, although these transactions may be called sales when qualified accordingly. Similarly, “faith,” when used without qualification, refers only to faith in Allah and His Messenger. When qualified, however, Allah Most High says:

“Have you not seen those who were given a portion of the Scripture, who believe in superstition and false gods?”

Such belief is not included in “faith” in its unqualified sense. Likewise, “glad tidings,” when used without qualification, means conveying news that brings joy. When qualified, however, the Most High says:

“So give them tidings of a painful punishment.”

There are many such examples. Thus, “divorce,” when used without qualification in Allah’s Book, refers to divorce pronounced by the husband without compensation, in which he retains the right to take his wife back. Where compensation is involved, he has no right to take her back, and this does not fall within the unqualified meaning of divorce. Rather, it is a ransom by which the woman secures her release from her husband