Muāwiya, we are but human, so be lenient …
For we are neither mountains nor iron. (1)
If (2) “I wiped over my head and my foot” had the same meaning as “I wiped my head and my foot,” coordination (3) according to syntactic position would be possible. But the meanings differ (4). It is therefore known that the phrase “and your feet,” when read in the accusative, is coordinated with “and your hands,” as stated by those who read it that way.
Accordingly, this reading is explicit in requiring the feet to be washed. There is nothing in either of the two readings whose apparent meaning (5) supports their view. It is thus known that these people relied on nothing [but] the apparent meaning of the Quran (6). This is also the way of all proponents of weak views who argue from the apparent meaning of
(1) The following is written in the margin of R: “Their saying, ‘You have prevailed, so show gracious forbearance.’ Isjāh means pardoning graciously; that is, ‘You have gained authority over me, so pardon me graciously.’ Its root meaning is ease and gentleness. A gait is described as sajh, meaning easy. Abū Ubayd said: It is related that, on the Day of the Camel, when Alī—may Allah be pleased with them both—had prevailed and approached Āisha’s howdah, he spoke to her, and she replied: ‘You have prevailed, so act graciously’; that is, ‘You have prevailed, so act well.’ He then prepared her journey in the finest manner and sent forty women with her—some say seventy—until she reached Medina.” Majma al-Amthāl by al-Maydānī.
(2) N, M, R, and H read: “If he were to say.”
(3) N and M read: “There can be no coordination; nor can coordination be possible.”
(4) B alone reads: “but for a different meaning.”
(5) N, M, and W read: “its apparent meaning”; B reads: “apparently.”
(6) B alone reads: “They relied on the apparent meaning of the Quran.” All other copies read: “They did not rely on the apparent meaning of the Quran.” The correct reading is perhaps the one I have adopted.