washing the entire foot would have been a burden to which human nature does not incline (1), as it does incline to seeking leadership and wealth (2). If it may be alleged that they lied and erred in what they transmitted from him concerning this matter, then it would be even more conceivable for lying and error to have occurred in what was transmitted (3) of the verse’s wording.

If it is instead said that the wording (4) of the verse has been established through mass transmission, in which error is impossible, then the Prophet’s ablution is established through mass transmission (5) with even greater force and completeness. Nor does the wording of the verse conflict with what has been established through mass transmission from the sunnah. Wiping is a generic category encompassing two forms: one involving the flow of water and one not involving it. Thus, the Arabs say, “I performed ablution for prayer.” Whatever involves the flow of water is washing. When one of the two forms is specifically designated as washing, the other may be specifically designated as wiping. Thus, “wiping” may refer to the general category, which includes washing, or to the specific form, which does not include washing.

There are many analogous cases, such as the expression “blood relatives.” It encompasses the agnatic heirs [all of them] (6), the fixed-share heirs, and others. Then, because the agnatic heirs and the holders of