Section: If the naked person finds pure hide, or leaves that he can stitch together to cover himself with, or hay that he can tie together to cover with, then he is obligated to do so; because he is capable of covering his nakedness with something pure [that does not harm him] (17), so it becomes obligatory for him [just as if he were capable of covering it with a garment] (18). The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, covered the legs of Mus'ab ibn 'Umayr with Idhkhir (19) when he could not find a cover (20). If he finds clay with which he can smear his body, [then the apparent statement of Ahmad is that] (21) it is not obligatory for him [to do so; and that is] (21) because it dries and falls off [upon bowing and prostrating. And because there is severe hardship in it, and it is not the standard custom] (22). Ibn 'Aqil chose the opinion that it is obligatory for him [because it covers his body, and what] (23) falls off, its ruling lapses, and he remains covered by what remains of it (24), and this is the position of some of the Shafi'is. [The most appropriate view is that it is not obligatory for him; because there is hardship upon him in doing so, and he incurs harm thereby, and he does not obtain complete coverage] (25). If he finds water
(17) Omitted from: M. (18) In the original: "like a garment". (19) Idhkhir: a fragrant plant; when it dries, it becomes white. (20) Recorded by al-Bukhari, in: Chapter: If only one garment is found, and Chapter: If one does not find a shroud except what covers his head and feet, from the Book of Funerals; and in: Chapter: The Migration of the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, from the Book of the Virtues of the Ansar; and in: Chapter: The Battle of Uhud, and Chapter: Those of the Muslims who were killed on the day of Uhud, from the Book of Military Expeditions; and in: Chapter: The Virtue of Poverty, from the Book of Heart-Melding Traditions. Sahih al-Bukhari 2/98; 4/71, 81; 5/121, 131; 8/119. And Muslim, in: Chapter: Concerning the shroud of the deceased, from the Book of Funerals. Sahih Muslim 2/649. And Abu Dawud, in: Chapter: What has been narrated concerning the evidence that the shroud is from the entire estate, from the Book of Wills; and in: Chapter: The detestability of extravagance in the shroud, from the Book of Funerals. Sunan Abi Dawud 2/104, 177. And al-Tirmidhi, in: Chapter: Concerning the virtues of Mus'ab ibn 'Umayr, from the Chapters on Virtues. 'Aridat al-Ahwadhi 13/237, 238. And al-Nasa'i, in: Chapter: The chemise in the shroud, from the Chapters on Funerals. al-Mujtaba 4/32. And Imam Ahmad, in: al-Musnad 5/109, 112. (21) Omitted from: The original. (22) In the original: "And in it there is harm and hardship, and it does not conceal the physical form." (23) In M: "that so what". (24) Omitted from: M. (25) Omitted from: The original.
